Spotlight on Entertainment Week Africa 2025: A Cultural Milestone
Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) made its resounding debut this November, taking over notable venues such as Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, and Alliance Française. This inaugural edition has set a powerful foundation for pan-African creative mobility and global cultural exchange, showcasing the continent’s vibrant cultural landscape and the immense potential it holds for international collaboration.
Attendance and Reach
The festival attracted an impressive 28,683 attendees from over 8 countries and 50 industries, reflecting a mosaic of cultures and creative practices. This diverse turnout underscored the event’s significance as a hub for networking, learning, and collaboration.
Multi-Venue Experience
With five distinct hubs—Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, Alliance Française, and Heritage Place—EWA provided a rich tapestry of experiences, enabling participants to engage in various activities, from conferences to performances. This multi-venue approach fostered a sense of community while maximizing opportunities for interaction among attendees.
Diverse Programming
EWA featured a staggering 150+ speakers across 61 sessions alongside 93 films screened, 20 music showcases, 9 fashion showcases, and a vibrant Deal Room with 9 tech startups. Notably, the event saw participation from 20 Hackathon companies and 6 music market partners, such as Empire and Virgin Music, highlighting EWA’s comprehensive commitment to fostering creativity across multiple sectors.
Global Engagement
The festival’s digital impact was equally impressive, boasting 5 million+ online engagements and 800 million+ digital impressions across major continents like Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. This extensive reach showcases not only the local interest but also the global resonance of African creative industries.
High-Profile Attendance
EWA also attracted a plethora of influential figures, including leaders like Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and entertainment icons such as Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, and Yemi Alade. The event was lauded as a powerful gathering of passionate voices from across the creative sectors, as stated by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism of Lagos.
Festival Highlights
Over the six-day festival, attendees experienced a multifaceted program tailored to various interests and industries. The theme, “Close the Gap,” served as both a challenge and blueprint, facilitating discussions about bridging the divides in talent, capital, and policy. Tiwa Medubi, Managing Director of Livespot360, emphasized this vision, stating her goal was to create practical opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
Meaningful Conversations
One of the key conversations featured a gender-equity panel including figures like Yemi Alade and Sasha P, where industry leaders underscored the necessity of increasing female representation in Nigerian music. This dialogue highlighted the challenges women face in the industry and the broader societal impacts of gender imbalance.
Fashion Forward
EWA’s fashion programming was another standout aspect, featuring 120+ entries from 10 emerging designers showcased on the EWA Runway Coterie stage. This segment spotlighted innovative interpretations of contemporary African style and provided a platform for new talent to emerge in the fashion landscape.
Collaborative Efforts
Beyond the festival’s physical events, initiatives like the Deal Room and Hackathon aimed to facilitate real-world application of concepts discussed during panels. The Deal Room focused on mentorship and investment readiness, leading to numerous companies receiving valuable support. Meanwhile, the Hackathon encouraged rapid product development, helping teams refine their ideas and solutions in real-time.
Cultural Celebrations
EWA also embraced celebratory cultural moments like Jokes & Jollof, culminating in the recognition of rising comedic talent and their contributions to the arts scene. Events like these were integral in fostering a spirit of camaraderie and celebration.
Partners in Progress
The success of EWA can be attributed to the robust partnerships formed with sponsors, venue hosts, industry content partners, and media allies. Collaborations with organizations such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and MTN highlighted the festival’s dedication to elevating the local creative economy while ensuring valuable global connections.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, EWA plans to return from November 17–22, 2026, with an even broader pan-African programming vision aimed at continuing to drive growth in the creative industries across the continent. Registration for future participants is already open, marking an exciting next step toward building upon the momentum generated in this inaugural year.
EWA is undeniably shaping the future landscape of African entertainment and creativity, setting the stage for continued innovation and collaboration across diverse cultural sectors.