Nine Awarded at CANEX Create-thon during Afreximbank Weekend
Nine creators across gaming, video, and music categories received recognition at the CANEX Create-thon, which concluded on 6 November at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts in Lagos. This event was a highlight of the CANEX WKND 2026, powered by Gebeya.
The competition was part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme. It invited participants to transform African-inspired ideas into projects using Gebeya’s Dala Studio, utilising AI tools for creating digital content. Around 6,000 creators from 43 countries took part, submitting 792 entries. The top three in each category participated in the live pitch finale.
A panel discussion titled “Claiming Our Stake in the AI Revolution” accompanied the live pitches, giving insight into both opportunities and challenges in the AI landscape for African creators. Temwa Gondwe, Director at Afreximbank, highlighted the need for Africa to gain a greater share of creative ownership and economic returns from its influence.
The winners are as follows:
- Gaming: Feven Birhanu (1st), Micheal Nomyongo (2nd), Angulu Paul Otoroza (3rd)
- Video: Racheal Ifeoma Ogugua (1st), Hassan Ahmed (2nd), Temilorun Okediji (3rd)
- Music: Ndaya Victoria Mulidiki (1st), David AMA (2nd), Nadia Eman Ibrahim (3rd)
The competition had a total prize pool of $50,000, with first prizes set at $7,000, second prizes at $3,500, and third prizes at $1,500 per category.
During the event, Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya, encouraged young Africans to leverage AI to create profitable products and services. He stressed the importance of practical applications for technology and fostering local culture in digital tools.
Afreximbank aims to enhance Africa’s creative industries and help creators access new markets and retain more value from their work. The event marked the launch of Afreximbank’s Innovation Lab, designed to overcome barriers to creativity and enhance the region’s artistic output through technology.
