The Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (https://www.CANEX.Africa), taking place from 25 – 27 November 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will feature international superstar Idris Elba. The actor is scheduled for the “When giants speak” Fireside Chat on Saturday 26 November, among other activities.

Idris Elba will bring his wealth of experience and insights into the global film industry as part of the CANEX WKND programme, which includes panel discussions, Fireside Chats, Masterclasses and Live performances. With roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, Elba represents the astounding success of people of African descent within the global entertainment industry. He joins a list of over 100 top speakers from Africa and the diaspora, representing a range of creative sectors, who have confirmed their participation in Africa’s most sought-after gathering of creatives.

Elba is an award winning actor, musician, filmmaker and philanthropist, well-known for roles such as Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, and DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor.

Organised by African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, CANEX WKND is a major milestone in the Bank’s implementation of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme; a multi-faceted intervention aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s rapidly growing creative and cultural industries. Afreximbank has identified the African diaspora as an essential component of the CANEX programme.

Read also : Winners of ClimaTech Run 2022 Competition Announced at COP27

CANEX WKND will also feature some of Africa and the diaspora’s top creative names, experts, brands, and thought leaders that will include:

Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya (Nigeria)

Didier Drogba, Retired Professional Footballer (Côte d’Ivoire)

Alex Okosi, Managing Director of EMEA Emerging Markets at YouTube (Nigeria)

Elvis Adidiema, Director, Sony Music for French-speaking Africa (Congo)

Abdul-Karim Abdullah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Culture Management Group (CMG) and Afrochella Festival (Ghana)

Magali Ohouens, Modern Art Specialist & Exhibition Coordinator at Cécile Fakhoury Gallery (Côte d’Ivoire)

Armando Cabral, Founder and Creative Director, Armando Cabral (Portugal) and

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author (Nigeria), amongst others.

Read also : Huawei Fintech Offering to Revolutionise Mobile Money in Africa

Sessions are open to all registered CANEX WKND delegates along with all Masterclasses that commence on Thursday 24 November. For more information and to register for free go to www.CANEX.Africa.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry