Should Africa Face Forward? – A Summary of the 2026 ADF-YGL Convening in Lagos

Lagos Hosts Continental Leaders to Reimagine Africa’s Creative Future

The question isn’t whether Africa should move forward—it’s whether Africa might already be the direction the rest of the world needs to face. That provocative premise, first posed by the late Professor Pius Adesanmi in his 2015 TEDxEuston talk, set the philosophical tone for September’s 2026 ADF-YGL Convening in Lagos, where Young Global Leaders from across the continent gathered to tackle the future of African innovation, culture, and creative economies.

From September 9th to 13th, emerging leaders from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and beyond descended on Lagos for an intensive week of dialogue organized by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and World Economic Forum. While much of the convening centered on infrastructure and governance, a critical conversation emerged around Africa’s creative exports—particularly music and film. The uncomfortable truth on the table? Afrobeats and African cinema are dominating global culture, yet the infrastructure supporting these industries remains largely foreign-owned. Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, joined industry voices in examining what it would take for Africa to build homegrown platforms rivaling Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube—infrastructure that keeps African intellectual property and profits on the continent.

The cultural immersion extended beyond boardroom discussions. At the JK Randle Museum, participants explored Yoruba cosmology and traditional practices, while artist and Young Global Leader Rewa Udoji welcomed attendees to GAIA Africa for hands-on creative experiences culminating in an Ijala performance. As business leader Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede noted during the sessions, “If you want to build a multi-generational business, culture is where you will find the stronghold.” That philosophy echoed throughout the week as leaders grappled with preserving African identity while competing in global markets. The Lagos convening ultimately left participants with more questions than answers—but perhaps that’s the point. The conversation around building African-owned creative infrastructure and protecting cultural authenticity has only just begun.

Stay connected with Afrobeat San Diego for the latest in global Afrobeats.