Uche U.  Hilary

The Convener of the Afrocentric Cultural Expo and Founder Nigeria chamber of Commerce USA, Gregory Uche, has said the 2026 edition of the 12-signature-event cultural platform is designed to position Nigeria as a leading global authority in African culture while creating a Pan-African platform for showcasing the continent’s creativity, heritage and economic potential.

Uche disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the unveiling of the 2026 Afrocentric Cultural Expo, scheduled to hold from November 7 to 18 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex, Abuja.

He said the idea for the expo was conceived about eight years ago in Los Angeles, United States, and was initially inspired by the Coachella festival, with the vision of creating a major platform where Africans could converge to celebrate their culture, creativity and enterprise.

According to him, the project was eventually brought to Nigeria last year after earlier efforts to develop it had stalled.

Uche stressed that the expo was not designed for Nigeria alone but for the entire African continent, with the long-term ambition of developing it into one of the world’s biggest cultural platforms.

He, however, cautioned against making direct comparisons with the historic FESTAC ’77 until the necessary institutional alignments and collaborations had been established across Nigeria and Africa.

The convener said the 2026 edition would feature 12 events taking place concurrently at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex, covering music, fashion, cultural dance, intellectual discourse, heritage, food, film, health and business, among other areas.

“We want to establish Nigeria as the leading cultural authority globally,” Uche said, stressing that the country had the creative depth and influence to provide leadership for Africa’s cultural renaissance.

He pointed to the international success of Nigerian musicians, artistes and other creatives as evidence of the country’s growing cultural influence globally.

Uche disclosed that more than 300 artistes had already signed up for the Afrocentric Music Festival, which he described as a platform for discovering and promoting emerging talents.

He said the festival would not only celebrate established artistes but also create opportunities for young and upcoming performers to develop their careers and gain wider exposure.

On fashion, Uche said the expo would focus on the entire value chain rather than merely showcasing clothing, noting that the industry encompassed cotton production, textile manufacturing, weaving, distribution and retail.

He said the expo would therefore provide an opportunity to draw attention to Nigeria’s textile potential and contribute to the development of the sector.

Another major component of the event, he said, would be the “African Women Are Gorgeous” programme, designed to celebrate African women while highlighting their intellectual contributions and achievements in economics, politics, business and academia.

Uche said the programme would bring together accomplished women from Nigeria and other African countries, combining cultural celebration with recognition of female excellence.

He also listed Afrocentric Cultural Dance among the key events, saying it would showcase the richness and diversity of African traditions while helping to preserve and promote the continent’s cultural identity.

The Afrocentric Intellectual Debate, he explained, would focus on African education and provide a platform for universities, students and academics across the continent to showcase their capabilities.

He said the initiative would also encourage Nigerians seeking education abroad to consider quality institutions within Africa.

The expo will also feature the African Heritage Awards to honour traditional rulers and custodians of African heritage, alongside a food expo designed to showcase African cuisine to a global audience.

According to Uche, the film festival would provide an avenue for graduate students from film institutions in Nigeria and across Africa to showcase their productions.

Other components include a health fair and a business summit, which he described as central to connecting the various creative and commercial activities under the expo.

Uche reiterated that the project was fundamentally Pan-African, saying Nigeria would host the inaugural edition while the organisers planned to expand the initiative to other parts of Africa.

He stressed that the scale and ambition of the project required collaboration and support from governments, institutions, businesses and other stakeholders across the continent.

The convener expressed confidence that, with the necessary partnerships, the Afrocentric Cultural Expo would strengthen Nigeria’s position as a cultural hub while opening new opportunities for African creatives, entrepreneurs and young people.

Expo to Inject $250m Into Local Economy — Musawa

Also speaking at the press conference held at City Gate, Abuja, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, who was represented by the Head of Job Creation, Jemma Amichree Broad, said the inaugural Afrocentric Cultural Expo was projected to inject more than $250 million into Nigeria’s local economy.

She said the initiative was part of efforts to position Nigeria as a global hub for African culture, creativity, tourism and investment.

According to the minister, the expo would go beyond a conventional cultural festival by creating a major economic platform capable of connecting Africa’s creative industries with global markets.

She disclosed that more than 1,000 exhibition booths would be available for vendors and large-scale enterprises, while the event would bring together music, film, fashion, food, heritage, intellectual engagement, sports, health and business activities.

Musawa described the Afrocentric Cultural Expo as “not merely a festival” but a major economic activation aimed at transforming Africa’s cultural wealth into tangible opportunities for jobs, investment, innovation and sustainable development.

She said the expo would provide African creative talents with access to markets commensurate with their potential while giving Nigeria’s tourism destinations greater international visibility.

The minister noted that for decades, African art, fashion, music and culinary creativity had made significant contributions to the global cultural landscape, but the economic benefits had often failed to reach the creators themselves.

She said the expo represented an opportunity for Africa to reclaim its narrative, strengthen its creative economy and derive greater economic value from its cultural assets.