The fourth edition of Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) kicked off on Thursday at the historic Professor Wole Soyinka Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, and tonight it will close with a high‑profile concert featuring some of the continent’s biggest music icons. The event brings together performers from across Africa and the Caribbean for a night of live music, rhythm and cultural celebration.
Key details include: the concert is headlined by Nigerian superstar Davido, Congolese star Fally Ipupa and veteran singer Flavour; other acts such as Cali‑Ber Tha Grime, Sabrina Francis and the DJ duo Wanni X Handi will also perform; the festival runs for four days under the theme “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World”; and senior officials including Vice‑President Kassim Shettima and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu are in attendance.
The line‑up showcases a blend of Afro‑pop, Congolese rumba and contemporary grime, reflecting the diverse musical heritage of the continent. Davido, known for his chart‑topping hits, will open the show, followed by Fally Ipupa’s signature melodies and Flavour’s high‑energy performances. Supporting acts such as Cali‑Ber Tha Grime and Sabrina Francis add further variety, while the DJ duo Wanni X Handi will keep the dance floor moving into the night.
Beyond the music, the four‑day gathering has revived the once‑dormant Arts Theatre, turning it into a hub for creative dialogue. Sessions on brand building for independent artists, podcasting, profitable fashion ventures and sustainable business models in the performing arts were delivered during the opening day. The programme aims to stimulate trade, investment and commercial opportunities across Africa’s burgeoning creative economy.
Dignitaries present included Vice‑President Kassim Shettima, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, Afreximbank President and Board Chairman Dr George Elombi, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and African Continental Free Trade Area Secretary‑General Wamkele Mene. Additional guests were Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hon Hannatu Musa Musawa, Afreximbank Executive Vice President Mrs Kanayo Awani, Grand Bahama Minister Hon Ginger Moxey, Emmy‑winning actor Uzo Aduba, filmmaker Funke Akindele, and actors Richard Mofe‑Damijo and Thuso Mbedu.
Speaking as he declared the programme open, Vice‑President Shettima highlighted the “can‑do spirit of African women” and praised Afreximbank’s pledge of US$2 billion to support Africa’s creative industries by 2027. He stressed that the sector is not merely entertainment but a serious economic infrastructure.
Shettima also recalled that the same venue hosted the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) nearly five decades ago, when artists proclaimed that African culture was “the core within history”. He contrasted the past with the present, saying, “In 1977 we came to celebrate our culture. In 2024 we are here to capitalize it,” urging Africans to take pride in their heritage without seeking external validation.
The concert promises to cement Lagos’s reputation as a cultural capital and showcase the commercial potential of Africa’s creative sectors, aligning artistic expression with economic growth.