The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, has partnered with pan-African technology company Gebeya to launch the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a competition aimed at supporting African creators in music, video and gaming.
The initiative will provide creators with digital tools, technical support, funding and exposure to help transform their ideas into working creative projects.
The competition comes with a total prize pool of $50,000 and will bring together musicians, filmmakers, storytellers, game developers and other creative professionals across Africa.
Participants will use Gebeya’s Dala Studio platform, computing resources and technical assistance during a four-day creation sprint scheduled for 20–24 August 2026.
Unlike traditional pitch competitions, the CANEX Create-thon will focus on building actual prototypes or completed creative works. Winners will be selected across three categories: music, video and gaming.
Afreximbank said the initiative aims to help African creators access technology and resources needed to grow their businesses and capture more value from their work.
“The CANEX Create-thon bridges this gap by equipping our creators with access to technology to turn their viral ideas into viable long-term businesses,” said Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank.
Gebeya CEO and Co-Founder Amadou Daffe said the programme will help creators move from ideas to market-ready products by providing access to digital infrastructure and production tools.
First-place winners in each category will receive $7,000, while second and third-place winners will receive $3,500 and $1,500, respectively. Additional finalists will receive awards of $500.
The competition is open to amateur, emerging and established African creators, with no requirement for a production company, studio access or an existing audience.
Registration opens on 30 July 2026 and closes on 19 August 2026. Winners will also receive an opportunity to attend CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, scheduled for November.
