Nairobi was alive with energy and global influence as more than 30 heads of state gathered for the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12, hosted by the President of Kenya William Ruto and the French president Emmanuel Macron. The landmark summit brought together leaders from across the continent for impactful conversations on economic integration, artificial intelligence, energy transition and global financial reform, while putting Africa’s booming creative economy firmly in the spotlight as a key driver of the continent’s future growth and global influence.
One of the unforgettable moments of the summit was ““Le Concert” organized and produced by Trace Media. The event was a dazzling final celebration of African unity, musical excellence and the continent’s thriving creative industries. The evening opened with a spectacular fashion showcase that highlighted designers from Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal, confirming Africa’s position as a global cultural and economic powerhouse where heritage, craftsmanship and storytelling seamlessly meet international markets.
President William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron have championed the creative economy as a powerful engine for youth empowerment, job creation and strategic cultural diplomacy between Africa and France. President Ruto emphasized that the creative sector is one of the biggest drivers of job creation and youth empowerment on the continent. He applauded the concert as a magnificent celebration of African fashion, dance and music that proves the immense promise of African talent.
President Macron also highlighted the power of African art, fashion and culture as influential drivers of global transformation, economic growth and identity, positioning the creative industries as a key pillar in strengthening the partnership between Africa and Europe.
The star-studded concert featured electrifying performances from some of Africa’s biggest names including Bien (Kenya), Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Jose Chameleone (Uganda) i Abigail Chams (Tanzania), among many other celebrated African stars.
Myriam Sidibéglobally recognized as a leading voice on system change for brand startups and founder of “Stamps on a mission” believes that Africa’s creative economy is entering a defining era. Through her work, she championed the power of brands to transcend creativity and become catalysts for impact, innovation and sustainable growth. Through her platform “Brands On A Mission”, Myriam re-launched “Creations For Purpose” to bring solutions to Africa’s creative economy, and both platforms were instrumental in curating the pan-African fashion show at the Africa Forward Summit “Le-Concert” and the Fashion Pop Up Experience for African brands.
Speaking about the future of African fashion, Myriam shared that the global market is increasingly looking towards Africa for authentic storytelling, craftsmanship and innovative design. She highlighted the importance of African designers taking advantage of international trade agreements and manufacturing opportunities to strengthen the continent’s position within the global fashion industry.
“We need to appreciate and add value to our local fabrics so that international brands can look to Africa for inspiration, textile innovation and meaningful collaborations,” she explained. Myriam also emphasized the need for African creatives to build stronger partnerships, networks and cooperatives that can help increase opportunities and open doors for the continent’s fashion talent on the global stage.
Myriam shares that beyond the runway and fashion pop-up experience at the Africa Forward Summit, “Creations For Purpose” is intentionally building pathways for African creatives to sustainably thrive within the global creative economy in partnership with Equity Bank which has footprints in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to empower creatives to be recognized not only as artists, but also as entrepreneurs capable of building sustainable careers and industries.
Speaking during Le Concert, CEO and Managing Director of Equity Group Dr James Mwangi echoed this vision, noting that the bank is restructuring the way it works with creatives by developing customized financial solutions that support long-term growth. He emphasized the importance of recognizing talent, intellectual property (IP) and digital footprint as valuable assets, enabling creatives to turn their artistic output into sustainable businesses, while ensuring that local talent gains global visibility and fair economic value.
Speaking on investment, production and policy reforms within Africa’s creative economy, Myriam highlights the urgent need for a stronger pan-African trade policy that makes it easier for African brands to expand beyond their home markets and access global opportunities more easily.
Reflecting on significant global moments for African fashion, Myriam points to Chanel’s historic Métiers d’Art showcase in Dakar 2022. It was the first time a European luxury fashion house organized a runway presentation in sub-Saharan Africa. She describes that moment as a major cultural turning point that further cemented Africa’s growing influence within the global discussion of luxury and fashion.
Myriam also points to taxation as one of the key challenges holding back the growth of Africa’s fashion and creative industries, noting that high taxes continue to affect manufacturing, infrastructure development and the production of quality goods across the continent. She emphasizes the need for policies that encourage the establishment of local factories, investment in fabric production and capacity building through training programs that meet international standards.
Roselynd Goudiably Laubhouet accessories designer of the “Design by Nahyel” brand from Senegal and founder of Nahyel Concept Store based in Dakar, brought a special West African flair to the Africa Forward Summit -Le Concert. Through a partnership with Myriam and “Creations For Purpose”, Nahyel Concept Store played a key role in curating the Fashion Pop Up and Fashion Show, creating a vibrant showcase that celebrated African creativity, craftsmanship and cross-cultural collaboration on the continental stage.
Coming from a highly artistic family, Roselynd says her love for art, design and creativity started at a young age. This passion eventually inspired her to launch her fashion accessories line “Design By Nahyel” with the vision that African art and leather crafting is appreciated and embraced by a global audience. Established in 2019, “Nahyel Concept Store” was strategically established in Dakar to create opportunities for emerging designers who previously did not have access to high-end retail spaces to showcase their brands and connect with the right clientele not only in Dakar, but across Africa.
Roselynd believes that the future of the African fashion industry lies in stronger collaboration between creatives across the continent. She shares that one of the biggest opportunities for African designers today is the ability to build cross-border partnerships that increase visibility, strengthen production capacity and open doors to international markets. She also revealed that The Concept Store intends to expand its African fashion footprint, with plans to start distributing Kenyan brands later this year at its Dakar and Abidjan outlets, a move that further underlines the growing momentum behind intra-African creative exchange and the continent’s growing fashion economy.
Speaking about the impact of the Africa Forward Summit, Roselynd notes that platforms that intentionally highlight African fashion, art and culture are key to changing global perceptions of the continent’s creative industries. For her, the summit created an important space for African brands not only to showcase their craft and innovation, but also to engage directly with an audience that recognizes the value of Africa’s booming creative economy. cementing its growing influence as a force within the global fashion industry.
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