Lagos had a busy four days as the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026, brought together people from across Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora to talk business, creativity, and what comes next for Africa’s creative industries.
The event ran from November 5 to November 8 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural & Creative Arts in Lagos. It was organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), hosted by the Government of Nigeria, and held in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
There was a bit of everything at CANEX. Music, fashion, film, literature, food, sports, and arts & crafts all had a place on the program.
CANEX brought together the people making the work, the people investing in it, and the policymakers building the environment where Africa’s creative businesses can grow.
It also created a space for African creatives to connect with their counterparts from the Caribbean and the wider diaspora.
At the opening on November 5, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, spoke about the creatives who have taken African stories and culture to audiences around the world.
Mrs. Tola Akerele, Managing Director and CEO of the National Theatre Nigeria, also opened the program with a conversation around building sustainable business models in the performing arts.
The second day brought food and fashion into the spotlight. The CANEX Junior Chefs Competition held its final on Friday, November 6, giving young culinary talents the chance to compete and show what they could do. The competition was more than who could make the best dish; it gave young chefs a platform and put attention on the next generation of Africa’s food industry.
Fashion also took over the program that day with the CANEX Fashion Show & Awards Night. Designers and fashion creatives got the chance to put their work in front of an audience that included industry players from different parts of Africa and the diaspora.
For Nigeria, which already has a strong fashion industry and a growing global audience, having this kind of event in Lagos was another chance to put local talent in the room with international players.
The third day was the CANEX Music Concert. It was electric with performances from Davido, Sabrina Francis, Fally Ipupa, and Flavour.
There was also a strong football presence. CANEX WKND 2026 ended on Sunday, November 8, with the Legends Football Match between Nigeria Legends and Africa Legends at Onikan Stadium. Some of the names on the pitch were familiar to anyone who grew up watching African football.
Jay-Jay Okocha, Patrick Mboma, and Victor Ikpeba were among the football legends present for the match. Nigeria Legends won 2–1 against Africa Legends, bringing the four-day event to a close.
CANEX made Lagos a meeting point for Africa’s creative economy, and it was indeed an incredible four days. The event may have ended, but the work it set out to encourage is only beginning.
See more photos from the CANEX WKND 2026 below:
