Onome Amuge
The Africa Creative Market (ACM), a pivotal platform for the continent’s rising creative industries, is slated to return for its fourth edition from September 16 to 19, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. This year’s theme, “Creative Bridge,” signals a strategic imperative to empower African talent, facilitate market access, and integrate creative professionals into global ecosystems.
Conceived and executed by the Ascend Studios Foundation, ACM has rapidly established itself as a continental benchmark for innovation, trade, and collaboration across Africa’s diverse creative sectors, which include film, fashion, music, technology, gaming, art, photography, dance, and sports.
The 2024 convening underscored the transformative impact of technology and innovation on the creative economy, drawing significant participation from leading African and international figures. Through keynote conversations, high-impact masterclasses, and industry showcases, ACM 2024 highlighted the continent’s increasing readiness for global partnerships. Building on this momentum, ACM 2025 aims to deepen its focus on market access, creative exports, and the formation of strategic alliances crucial for sustained growth.
Inya Lawal, convener of the Africa Creative Market, asserted the event’s vision: “Creative Bridge is more than a theme—it’s a blueprint for Africa’s creative future. This year, we are intentionally connecting the dots between talent and trade, providing the tools, insights, and exposure that creatives need to thrive in a fast-changing global landscape.”
As a flagship platform for creative collaboration on the continent, ACM 2025 will feature a dynamic agenda encompassing industry forums, investment roundtables, creative showcases, and policy dialogues. These sessions are designed to enhance partnerships and shape the trajectory of Africa’s creative economy. With a keen focus on data, innovation, funding, and export readiness, the event is positioned as a launchpad for both creators and investors.
This year’s edition is expected to attract influential global voices, emerging African talent, and cultural entrepreneurs poised to lead the next phase of Africa’s creative industries. ACM 2025 is engineered to generate new ideas, forge transformative collaborations, and firmly embed African creativity within global discourse.
