Nigeria set to benefit as Afreximbank launches $50,000 CANEX Create-thon for African creators

Nigeria's vibrant creative industry is poised for a significant boost with the launch of the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a $50,000 competition organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and technology firm Gebeya. The initiative targets innovators in music, film, and gaming across Africa, with a special focus on empowering Nigerian creators.

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Africa’s creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade. The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses.

The pan-African competition, operating under Afreximbank's Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, will provide participants with access to Gebeya's Dala Studio platform, crucial computing resources, and expert mentorship. This four-day innovation sprint, scheduled for August 20-24, 2026, requires participants to produce working prototypes or completed creative projects, moving beyond traditional pitch competitions.

Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, highlighted the program's goal to address the financial and technological barriers faced by African creators. "Africa's creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade," Gondwe stated. "The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses."

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Through CANEX, we are enabling creators to retain more value from their work and build a competitive base in regional and global markets. It’s time African creators captured the true financial value of their global influence.

Amadou Daffe, CEO and Co-Founder of Gebeya, emphasized the need for enhanced technology and production infrastructure in Nigeria's creative sector, despite its global recognition. "Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20 percent in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume," Daffe noted. He added that the Create-thon would place practical digital tools directly into creators' hands to foster original music, video, and gaming projects.

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Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20 percent in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume.

The competition welcomes both amateur and established creators, individuals, and teams, irrespective of their affiliation with production companies or studios. Winners will compete for a share of the $50,000 prize pool, with further details on prize distribution to be announced.

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However, many creators still lack access to the technology and production infrastructure needed to realise the full potential of their ideas. Through Dala Studio, the CANEX Create-thon will place practical digital tools directly in the hands of creators and challenge them to build original music, video and gaming projects.