The #AfricaSoftPowerSeries, a virtual summit bringing together some of the most prominent thought leaders and pioneers, focused and passionate about Africa, which started on Wednesday, August 12, will end today.
Holding under the theme: ‘Creative power: Content, culture & platforms, where is the money?’ the final session, which like the ones before, is to convene via Zoom, will revolve around the topic, “The Wrap Up: Investing in Soft Power”.
Sophie Masipa will moderate the session that features a panel with Hakeem Belo Osagie
Stephen Hendel.
Register atwww.theafricasoftpowerproject.com
You can also follow @africasoftpower on social media, for all updates on the series.
The summit, whose format has been to introduce the panelists, hold a discussion and then take questions, has focused on topics such as ‘Reopening Africa, an Opportunity to Reboot’, ‘Messaging, Payments & Platforms – Beyond Social Media & Networking’, and ‘The Future of Sports and Live Entertainment’. Also featured is ‘The Business of Film – Building a Sustainable African Industry’, ‘African Television: Now and The Future’, ‘Pop Culture, Gender Roles & Responsibility to Audience’,
The organisers said in a statement announcing the summit that with so many negative stories about Africa, the theme, ‘Creative Power: Content, Culture and Platforms’ sets the stage for crucial dialogues on how Africa can harness its soft power effectively, to advance strategic interests and shape global conversations.
“As the world’s last large, underdeveloped market, the importance of the creative and knowledge industries takes on added significance when we consider that the continent will be home to more than a third of the world’s population and half of the world’s youth by 2100. In addition, current global affairs underscore that the struggles of African-Americans and people of African heritage are equally the continent’s struggle. Africa must ensure that its creative, technological and cultural assets translate into tangible engines of social and economic growth for all its people,” said the statement.