AFRIMA, California–Lagos Summit partner to drive Africa–US creative economy

Stanley Ihedigbo

A new economic and cultural bridge between Africa and the United States is expected to emerge as key government officials, investors, entrepreneurs and creative-industry leaders converge in California for the California–Lagos Business & Investment Summit.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of California, Gavin Newsom; Founder and President of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada; and Chief Executive Officer of Afretrade, Lekan Salaam, are among the prominent figures expected to headline the two-day summit scheduled for September 17 and 18, 2026, in Sacramento and San Francisco, California.

The high-level gathering, themed “Building the California–Nigeria Business Bridge,” is expected to bring together business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, professionals and members of the African diaspora to explore opportunities for trade, investment and cross-border collaboration.

The summit is a private-sector-led initiative powered by Afretrade, the US Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce, NIED Group and the Office of Diaspora Affairs of Lagos State.

Organisers said the event is designed to strengthen economic ties between Lagos and California while creating practical opportunities for businesses, investors and professionals on both sides of the Atlantic.

A major highlight of the summit will be the participation of AFRIMA President Mike Dada, who is expected to speak on “From Culture to Capital: Unlocking the California–Lagos Creative Economy.”

His presentation, titled “Investing in Music, Film, Intellectual Property and the Future of Africa–America Cultural Commerce,” will examine the economic potential of Africa’s rapidly expanding creative industries.

The session is expected to focus on music, film, entertainment and intellectual property as drivers of economic growth, while examining how stronger investment frameworks and commercial structures can enable African creators and businesses to capture greater value from their intellectual assets.

Dada said Africa should no longer be viewed merely as a source of creative content for international markets, stressing that the continent has become a major market, talent hub and investment destination.

“Africa is no longer simply a source of creative content for the global market; Africa is a market, a talent hub and an investment destination,” Dada said.

According to him, the priority should be to develop structures that enable African creators to retain more value from their intellectual property while attracting the capital, technology and international partnerships necessary to scale their businesses.

He said AFRIMA’s experience over the years had positioned the organisation to contribute meaningfully to the emerging relationship between African creativity, enterprise and global markets.

“AFRIMA has been at the vanguard of Africa’s music business and economic renaissance for the past 15 years, helping to build bridges between African creativity, enterprise and global markets,” he said.

Dada added that AFRIMA’s objectives aligned closely with those of the California–Lagos summit because both platforms seek to position African businesses, talents and intellectual property for greater global competitiveness.

Beyond the creative economy, the summit is expected to address a broad range of sectors with significant potential for cross-border investment.

Areas listed for discussion include technology and fintech, trade and logistics, transportation, entertainment, agriculture, renewable energy, real estate and access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The organisers expect CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, capital providers, Nigerian professionals and business owners in the United States, members of the African diaspora and trade and development stakeholders to participate.

The main business programme is scheduled to run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and will feature keynote addresses, high-level discussions, panel sessions, capital-raising opportunities and business matchmaking.

The organisers believe the combination of government participation, private-sector leadership and diaspora engagement could provide a platform for businesses seeking to establish partnerships across California and Nigeria.

The programme will also include a series of formal networking and diplomatic engagements.

An official celebration is expected to take place at the historic Stanford Mansion, while the Gala and Award Night will be held at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

The programme will continue on Friday, September 18, with a high-level diplomatic and business networking reception in San Francisco.

The events are expected to provide opportunities for investors, business owners, government representatives and professionals to establish relationships and explore potential partnerships.

In a related development, AFRIMA has entered into a strategic partnership with the California–Lagos Business & Investment Summit.

The partnership strengthens the summit’s focus on the creative economy and positions music, entertainment and intellectual property as important components of the emerging California–Nigeria economic relationship.

Speaking on the partnership, AFRIMA Regional Director for Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, said music business development remained central to AFRIMA’s mission.

“Music business advancement is one of the core seven pillars of AFRIMA,” Ndifonka said, noting that the AFRIMA Music Business Summit is an integral part of the organisation’s annual awards activities.

According to him, AFRIMA’s responsibility goes beyond celebrating artists.

The organisation, he said, is committed to contributing to the development of an ecosystem in which African creativity can attract investment, create sustainable businesses and generate greater economic value.

He described the California–Lagos summit as an important platform for achieving that objective.

“California is a global centre of technology, capital and entertainment, while Lagos is one of Africa’s leading hubs for creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation,” he said.

“Connecting these ecosystems can create opportunities across music, film, intellectual property, technology and cultural commerce.”
Ndifonka said AFRIMA was pleased to partner with the summit as part of its broader effort to connect African creative talent with the global marketplace.

The summit comes at a time when Lagos and California are increasingly recognised for their respective roles in entrepreneurship, technology, entertainment and innovation.

California is home to globally significant technology and entertainment ecosystems, while Lagos has emerged as one of Africa’s most influential centres for technology, creative industries, finance and entrepreneurship.

Organisers believe that creating stronger links between the two environments could unlock opportunities for investment, knowledge transfer, market access and international expansion.

The participation of members of the African diaspora is also expected to be significant, particularly given the growing role of diaspora professionals and investors in facilitating business relationships between Africa and the United States.

The summit therefore seeks to move beyond dialogue towards concrete business relationships, investment opportunities and partnerships.

Established in 2011 by the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union, with its first edition held in 2014, AFRIMA has grown into one of Africa’s major continental music awards and cultural platforms.

The 10th edition of the awards is scheduled for 2027, with build-up activities under the RoadTo10thAFRIMA banner already held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; and Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco.

The awards have been hosted in major African cities, including Lagos, Accra and Dakar.
According to the organisation, AFRIMA’s broadcasts reach audiences in more than 84 countries worldwide.

Beyond the awards ceremony, the organisation has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for music business development, talent discovery, policy engagement, education and cultural diplomacy.

The AFRIMA Music Business Summit is one of the organisation’s seven pillars, reflecting its emphasis on the commercial development of Africa’s music industry.

The pillar brings together music executives, artistes, policymakers, investors and other industry stakeholders to discuss the business and economic development of the sector.

Other pillars include the Music Awards, which recognise outstanding African musical talent; Music Festivals, which celebrate the continent’s cultural diversity through live performances; and the AFRIMA Kreative Academy (TAKA), which provides training and mentorship for young creative professionals.

The organisation also focuses on Talent Discovery and Promotion, identifying and supporting emerging artistes; Advisory and Policy Debates, which engage stakeholders on copyright, regulation and creative-industry policies; and Advocacy, which uses music to promote peace, social responsibility and the growth of Africa’s creative economy.

With government officials, private-sector leaders, investors and creative-industry stakeholders expected at the California–Lagos summit, organisers are positioning the event as more than a conventional business conference.

The broader ambition is to establish stronger and sustainable commercial relationships between Lagos, Nigeria and California, while opening new channels for African businesses and creative enterprises to access international markets and capital.

For the creative sector in particular, the partnership with AFRIMA is expected to bring greater attention to the commercial value of music, film, intellectual property and cultural assets.

As Lagos and California seek to deepen their relationship, the September summit could provide a new platform for turning shared interests in innovation, creativity, investment and entrepreneurship into practical partnerships.