From June 1-30, major cities of Canada like Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga will be agog for AfroVision X 2026, a first of its kind month-long celebration of African and Caribbean creativity.
Leading the official launch activities at Tera Kulture, Lagos during the week, David Bebiem, Convener, AfroVision X and CEO of Grandieu, emphasized how Nigeria is central to the festival’s global architecture.
“Nigeria is the heartbeat of modern African creativity. From music and film to fashion and digital arts, this nation shapes global culture,” he shared. “AfroVision X 2026 is intentionally designed as a structured marketplace – a convergence point for creatives, investors, brands and diaspora networks to generate measurable economic impact.”
Bebiem added that AfroVision X would feature fashion showcases, film screenings, music concerts, theatre productions, exhibitions and high-level industry roundtables, culminating in a global awards platform.
In his remarks at the launch, Ayoola Sadare, CEO, Inspiro Productions, who doubles as Nigeria’s anchor and official partner of AfroVision X, emphasised the need to transition from informal cultural export to intentional trade.
According to him, Nigeria already exports culture organically, but AfroVision X provides the infrastructure to transform that influence into capital access, Diaspora engagement and institutional growth.
“This is about positioning our creatives within formal global economic systems,” he stressed.
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) demonstrated strong institutional backing at the launch.
Obukome Elaine Ibru-Mukoro, Chairperson of the Chamber’s Creative Economy Sector, described the initiative as timely, aligning with Nigeria’s broader economic priorities. Corroborating Obukome, the Chamber’s Director of Programmes for the Creative and Entertainment Sector, Andre Bassey, said AfroVision X is a pragmatic and well-thought out idea.
Industrialist cum entrepreneur, Prince Adeyemi-Doro, founder of Adeyemi-Doro Group, highlighted the digital imperative driving the next phase of growth.
“The intersection of Artificial Intelligence, digital infrastructure and the creative economy is where talent converts into scalable value,” he explained. “With the right systems, young Nigerian creatives can compete and win in structured global markets.”
Adding depth to the cultural and heritage conversation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Zainab Shogbesan of Asa Heritage Foundation, underscored the importance of narrative ownership in international cultural exchange, drawing from her recent curatorial work at Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos.
The launch attracted a cross-section of industry stakeholders including Segun Adefila of Crown Troupe of Africa, Toyin Oshinaike; Akin Olu-Philips of PDR Media, who served as Master of Ceremonies; Prince Adebowale Adesida of African Fashion Works; Eric Ossai, CEO of Conscious Chaos; and Joseph Umoibom representing Terra Kulture, a partner of the initiative.
A mini-exhibition of African crafts and instrumental interludes by multi-talented artiste, ECA provided a preview of the creative energy expected at the Canadian showcase.
Meanwhile, organisers have confirmed that sponsorship, partnership and registration channels are now open to Nigerian brands, institutions and practitioners ahead of the June global outing.