Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2024 includes art & culture exhibitions, live performances and various sessions
Algiers Correspondent
Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2024 will be held from 16 to 19 October in Algiers, the Algerian capital. The opening ceremony will be held in partnership with L’Opéra d’Alger in L’Opéra d’Alger Main Auditorium, and the Visual Arts Exhibition will be in partnership with The National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers (Musée National des Beaux-arts d’Alger).
Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) at Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2023), held in Cairo, Egypt, saw delegates from across the African continent representing a diversity of creative sectors, taking part at this event which hosted over 21 live performances, had 115 speakers who are industry leaders and experts, 13 master class sessions, and included an awe-inspiring fashion show, high energy music concert and exciting gastronomical showcases alongside a vibrant market and exhibition.
CANEX WKND 2024 will further develop conversations and provide even more business to business and business to government opportunities through a 4-day gathering that will once again hold under the theme “One People, United in Culture, and creating for the World.”
Day 1, Thursday, 17 October, will witness the CANEX WKND Summit, G & CA Programs, and Parallel Sessions. Session (United in Culture: Prosperity through Shared Cultural Heritage) will be acknowledging that the creative economy is at the interface of creativity, culture, economics and technology – as expressed in its ability to generate income, jobs and export earnings while at the same time promoting social inclusion and cultural diversity – much more should be done through cooperation among global south countries and cultural organizations to support the development, promotion and distribution of content, and performance opportunities for creatives and creative organizations across borders.
At the CANEX Food Market, there will be remarks by representative, Culinary Sector, with an opening statement. Live Demonstration & Conversation (G&CA Panel) will discuss Flavors of Africa – Celebrating Culinary Diversity While considering our culinary diversity, the Celebrity Chefs and Experts in this session will discuss the similarities of flavors, techniques and tastes that are found across the continent and in the Diaspora.
A session entitled (Collective Disruption: strengthening the fashion and textile ecosystem) will observe the strengthening the fashion and Textile Ecosystem Collectives in the Orange Economy which plays a critical role in boosting creativity, protecting members, promoting collaboration, and supporting emerging creatives. This session will focus on uprooting the challenges faced by fashion businesses in Global Africa through collective action, culminating in the launch of the Pan-African Fashion Alliance. The session will be followed by the launch of the Pan-African Fashion Alliance.
Live performances are shown between sessions along the days of this continental event.
There will also be a session on Globalized Strategies for Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights Protection, to capitalize on the global appetite for creative assets and art forms from emerging economies, there must be an intentional, explicit and harmonized IPR strategy that protects creatives and creative organizations in global markets. This session will explore sustainable strategies for strengthening intellectual property frameworks in emerging economies, and conclude with the launch of CANEX Creations Incorporated.
Before the closing of Summit Day 1, there will be an announcement of the CANEX Film Factory with screening of Dust to Dreams trailer, followed by CANEX WKND Mega Concert.
On Day 2: Friday, 18 October, there will be CANEX WKND Masterclasses and Parallel Sessions, as well. The Algerian Company of fairs and Exhibitions (SAFEX) will host the Future Perspectives session on (AI & Innovative Technologies for Global Africa). This will be followed by Inside South (An Investment Roadmap for CCIs in Africa – Research Launch presented by British Council) and IPR Blueprint Session – Led by AfCFTA, in partnership with the African Union Commission and Afreximbank.
CANEX Masterclasses on Fashion, MANSA, Football (presented by the confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Gastronomy and Basketball Africa League will be also hosted at SAFEX. CANEX SHORTS Screenings – including screening of Dust to Dreams will have Visual Arts Workshop – in partnership with the Graduate School of Fine Arts of Algiers.
The session (Beyond the Scoreboard: Can Global Partnerships Provide Opportunities in the Sports Ecosystem) will have a discussion with key industry stakeholders and sports persons on the potential of strategic partnerships for economic growth in the African sports industry. The 2nd day will be concluded with CANEX Freestyle Football Championship.
Day 3: Saturday, 19 October: Summit & Parallel Sessions will continue with the launch of Africa SportsWear Brand. The first session will be (From Production to Distribution: Resourcing an Evolved African Film & TV Industry). For African screen content to break borders in the same way K-Dramas have gripped consumers across the globe, experts will deconstruct the current Film & TV ecosystem and provide strategic recommendations to effectively develop, equip, support and distribute African content. After the Gastronomy & Culinary Arts Program, at the CANEX Food Market, Cooking Masterclass will be given. An after live performances, there will be a fireside chat on Creativity, Culture and Capital: Financing the South – South Orange Economy.
There will also be a session on CANEX Streams Africa – Digitalizing Africa’s Creative Economy. Digitalization has significantly impacted the African cultural and creative industries. This session will provide an understanding of the significance of leveraging digitalization, as well as explore the way in which cultural products and services are distributed and consumed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will be followed by the launch of CANEX Streams Africa (CASA), and CANEX WKND Closing Ceremony with Fashion Show. The Awards Ceremony will cover CANEX Shorts Awards 2024.
CANEX Summit in Algeria will officially announce the winners of the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa, a partnership between the CANEX Book Factory and the Narrative Landscape Press Limited.
The CANEX Book Factory, a key intervention under the CANEX program, aims to promote a vibrant literary culture across Global Africa and encourage the development of a sustainable business ecosystem in the literary sector. CANEX was launched in 2020 by Afreximbank as a key driver for development and job creation in Africa, having recognized the relevance and opportunities provided by the creative and cultural industries. The CANEX Book Factory will spotlight and elevate the African book value chain through a Pan-African writing workshop, an e-newsletter highlighting African literature and the prize for publishing in Africa. This will culminate in the Award Ceremony at the CANEX WKND to be held in Algiers, Algeria on 16-19 October, 2024. A USD20, 000 prize will be awarded to the publisher of the best trade book. Trade books refers to books published for a general audience, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry and excludes textbooks and academic books. Additionally, four finalists will each receive USD 2,000 in prize money.
Read: The CANEX Book Factory Creative Writing Workshop
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