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About ACFTA FEST Africa’s Festival of Trade, Talent & Culture Register Become A Partner
Our Story
About ACFTA FEST – Africa’s Festival of Trade, Talent & Culture

ACFTA FEST (Africa Connected Through Trade & Talent Festival) is Africa’s flagship rotating continental festival created to bring the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) vision to life not just through policies, but through people.

This annual multi-sector event moves from country to country across the continent, showcasing Africa’s brightest startups, boldest creatives, legendary athletes, and emerging changemakers. From Lagos to Kigali, Accra to Nairobi, it is a celebration of what Africa has achieved and what Africa is building.

“We don’t just want to trade goods. We want to trade dreams, knowledge, and possibilities.”

The Cause
Why ACFTA FEST?

Despite AfCFTA’s historic promise, several gaps persist:

  • Intra-African trade remains below 17%
  • African youth, startups, and creatives lack visibility and scale
  • Football and cultural icons are celebrated more abroad than at home
  • There is no single festival where Africa celebrates its cross-sectoral excellence

ACFTA FEST responds to this void with an immersive platform that connects trade to talent, culture to commerce, and youth to opportunity.

Mission
Uniting Africa
Our Mission

To unite Africa’s changemakers, industry shapers, creatives, and legends into one dynamic, world-class festival that drives intra-African trade, celebrates Pan-African excellence, and accelerates youth-led transformation.

Startup Flames
Empowering African startups & SMEs through Live pitch competitions, Investor matchmaking, Startup exhibitions. Business masterclasses & Industry shaper awards.
Heritage Waves
A cultural dome for creatives, featuring; Concerts by Africa’s biggest artists, Storytelling nights & griots, Runway fashion shows & design summits and Visual arts pavilions.
African Legends United
Where Africa’s football heroes unite: Obasanjo Cup: African Legends vs Host Nation Legends, Youth football clinics & mentorship, Legends Choice Awards (fan-voted), Sports policy and diplomacy roundtables.
Vision
Our Vision

To become the continent’s most impactful platform for building trade bridges, creative networks, and continental pride — aligned with AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Values
Our Core Values

Unity, innovation, and inclusion drive our decisions. We prioritise excellence, building a legacy that outlives short-term impact.

Unity We build bridges across African borders and cultures.
Innovation We celebrate new ideas and technologies created by Africans.
Inclusion Everyone has a place — regardless of language, gender, or background.
Excellence We recognize the best in business, art, and legacy.
Legacy Each edition leaves behind something tangible — hubs, clinics, or partnerships.
Our Objectives
Strategic Objectives
  1. Promote intra-African trade by linking entrepreneurs, startups, creatives, and investors
  2. Empower SMEs with visibility, pitch platforms, market access, and partnerships
  3. Celebrate African legends in football, innovation, entertainment, and leadership
  4. Unify African identity through art, sport, music, food, and fashion
  5. Enhance youth engagement through incubation, recognition, and funding

Reposition Africa’s image globally as a bold, innovative, and dynamic continen

Join Us
Who We Serve
  1. Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders
  2. Artists, Musicians, Designers, Creatives
  3. Football Legends & Youth Athletes
  4. Trade Ministries, Donor Agencies, Development Institutions
  5. Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, DFIs
  6. Governments, Corporate Sponsors, and Pan-African Brands
  7. Pan-African Youth Movements & Civil Society Organizations
Team
Our Organizers & Founding Partners

ACFTA FEST was created by a dynamic coalition of organizations with deep experience in: Entrepreneurship Development, Cultural Promotion & Events Management, Trade & Policy Advocacy &Sports Diplomacy & Talent Development

Hosting
The Rotational Hosting Model

Each year, one African country is selected to host the festival. This rotating model ensures equitable exposure, shared benefits, and continent-wide legacy.

Host Country Benefits Include:

  • Boost in tourism, hospitality, and retail
  • Increased media exposure and branding as an AfCFTA hub
  • CSR projects left behind (youth centers, startup hubs, football facilities)
  • Institutional partnerships and foreign direct interest
  • National creatives, SMEs, and athletes on a global stage