๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ? ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง-๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ

Africa is a continent of diversity, strength, and vision โ a place where ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐, ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ converge to shape a brighter future. One of the most exciting platforms driving this convergence is ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ. But many still ask: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ?
At its core, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ; ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ. As Africaโs first cross-sector, rotational ๐ฉ๐๐ง-๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ, ACFTA Fest brings together entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, policymakers, and youth from across the continent to celebrate who we are while envisioning what we can become. By blending ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ under one roof, the festival creates a unique environment for unity, empowerment, and growth.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ?
To answer the question โ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ? โ itโs important to look at its foundation. ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ, ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
While AfCFTA is a landmark policy framework designed to increase intra-African trade, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐-๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐.
The ๐ฉ๐๐ง-๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ rotates annually between host countries, leaving behind ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ. Each edition focuses on creating practical impact by supporting startups, promoting trade visibility, celebrating culture, and recognizing the role of sports diplomacy.
At its heart, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ โ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ.
๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ

๐. ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ
Africaโs entrepreneurs are at the center of its economic future. The Startup Flames pillar is designed to ignite innovation by ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ from across the continent. Through exhibitions, pitch competitions, masterclasses, and investor matchmaking,
African entrepreneurs gain access to opportunities that help scale their businesses.This focus on ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ ensures that the festival is not only a celebration but also a ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ.
๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฌ
No ๐ฉ๐๐ง-๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ is complete without celebrating ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ and ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐. Heritage Waves showcases concerts, storytelling nights, fashion runways, design summits, and art exhibitions.
By amplifying ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ACFTA Fest honors traditions while also showcasing contemporary creativity.
๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐
Sports have always been a unifying force in Africa. This pillar celebrates ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ by bringing together legendary footballers and youth athletes. With mentorship clinics, roundtables, and the Obasanjo Cup, this pillar inspires and empowers the next generation.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐
๐. ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐๐
ACFTA Fest enhances ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ by creating visibility and networking opportunities. With AfCFTA lowering barriers, the festival provides a ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ญ๐ฌ.
๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐
The festival highlights ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ and ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐ through music, art, and storytelling. This strengthens pride and preserves traditions while promoting Africa on the global stage.
๐. ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฒ
By celebrating ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ, ACFTA Fest unites communities and inspires youth through mentorship and sporting excellence.
๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
By empowering youth with opportunities, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ from challenges to opportunities. It highlights ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ.
It shows that ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ .