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Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, has partnered with Gebeya, an Addis Ababa-based technology company, to launch the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a competition for African creators across music, video, and gaming with a total prize pool of $50k.
Registration opens on 30 July 2026 and closes on 19 August 2026.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a financial institution that promotes intra- and extra-African trade.
For over 30 years, it has provided innovative financing solutions to support Africa’s economic growth and trade transformation. Afreximbank backs the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and has established the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and a $10 billion Adjustment Fund to assist participating countries.
Unlike a conventional pitch competition, the Create-thon requires participants to build and submit working prototypes or completed creative projects during an intensive four-day creation sprint from 20 to 24 August 2026.
Participants will have access to Gebeya’s Dala Studio platform, computing resources, and support from 30 to 40 ambassadors from Gebeya’s community network.
The competition is open to amateur, emerging, and established creators across Africa, with no requirement for a production company, studio access, or existing audience.
“Africa’s creators are visible and have the digital talent but have often lacked the financial backing and access to digital tools to grow their trade. 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.
First-place winners in each of the three categories will receive $7k, second-place winners $3.5k, and third-place winners $1.5k, with additional awards of $500 for qualifying finalists.
Submissions will undergo technology-assisted screening before moving to a public voting stage to determine the top 100 projects, followed by assessment from an expert panel drawn from the creative, technology, and business sectors.
First-place winners in each category will also attend CANEX WKND 2026, taking place at the National Theatre in Lagos from 5 to 8 November 2026, with exposure through Afreximbank’s CANEX network and opportunities to engage with creators, businesses, investors, and creative-industry leaders.
Gebeya is a pan-African AI technology company founded in 2016 in Addis Ababa. It focuses on creating digital tools and infrastructure tailored for Africa, using artificial intelligence to improve access and usability for people, businesses, and organisations across the continent.
“Recorded music revenues in sub-Saharan Africa have grown by more than 20% in a single year, the continent’s gaming market continues to expand, and Nigeria’s film industry remains among the world’s largest by production volume. However, many creators still lack access to the technology and production infrastructure needed to realise the full potential of their ideas,” said Amadou Daffe, CEO and co-founder of Gebeya.
