Africa's creative economy gets a continental voice through ACCS summit

The Africa Commerce Convergence Summit, which recently brought together the African Marketing Confederation (AMC), Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa) and the African Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON) for an inaugural summit in Zambia, is expanding. 

On the final day of the Zambian gathering a fourth continental professional body, the Federation of African Creative Economies (FACE), was launched. It will make its conference debut at the 2027 Africa Commerce Convergence Summit being held in Ethiopia, alongside marketing, ICT and supply chain professionals. 

FACE is intended to provide a continental coordination and representation platform for Africa’s creative economy – bringing creative practitioners, creative organisations, networks and businesses into a more structured Africa-wide framework.  

Rather than being another creative-industry conference or festival, it is positioned as a professional federation which will provide support across key pillars of the industry such as academics, advocacy and events.

In short, said Dr Jayne Crawshay-Hall Robertson, who is co-ordinating the formation of FACE, the aim is to establish an infrastructure that can assist creatives to be better in business. 

The founding country members of the FACE initiative are Ghana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.  

“My hope is that, starting with these four countries, we will be able to have a big impact in the creative economy and create a structure for creatives to thrive and be part of this economic story of uplifting Africa and advancing Africa,” said Crawshay-Hall Robertson. 

Comments Creative20, the South African body which will be part of the new FACE: “For years, the creative economy has been celebrated for its soul and under-supported for its business.  

“Marketers, technologists and supply chain professionals now share a table with a federation dedicated to the creative sector. That is where brand stories get built, digital platforms get distributed and creative products reach shelves, screens and stages in every market.”