Objectives:

Explore the power of the creative and digital industries to create and accelerate equitable, sustainable, and inclusive economic opportunities for Africa's youth

Foster dialogue between stakeholders to increase awareness of the importance of youth and influencer power in social movements and policy actions/interventions

Examine the relationship between digital platforms, technology adoption and youth power, and agency

Foster discourse on the topical issues threatening the future of youth on the continent – insecurity, climate change, etc – and the application of youth power as a solution to these issues

Engage both government and youth groups on citizen participation and youth engagement as a necessary part of democratic governance

Set the bedrock for research studies into how agents of socialization shape the recognition/growth of youth power – primarily, insights into the media consumption patterns and habits of young people and the power of media to inspire collective action

Explore avenues for businesses to provide solutions that respond to the needs of young consumers

Overview:

Almost 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25, making Africa the youngest continent – and by 2050, the continent’s population is expected to double. Such a high number of young people are the continent’s biggest opportunity for growth, innovation and sustainable development.

An easily recognizable avenue for growth is the continent’s creative, digital and knowledge industries. Digital media and advances in technology have provided the youth with platforms to express their talents, shape their own narratives, and build careers in these industries – from music, fashion, and lifestyle to gaming, digital art and more – while cultivating influence and social capital.

This increase in youth participation in some of the most dynamic industries of our time is parallel to the increasing involvement of young voices in social and political movements. As evident in the changing face of these movements, involving young people is not just a question of inclusion; youth participation and the power it brings breathes new life into existing causes – from new ideas, to innovative financing methods, different approaches to information sharing, collaboration, and mobilization.

Consider how in recent times, major conversations on social and political change on the continent – #EndSars, #CongoisBleeding, #EndAnglophoneCrisis, #ShutItAllDown, etc – have been led and amplified by the youth. In most cases, young creatives and influencers have used various art forms to criticise governance, demand accountability, challenge the political awareness of citizens, set the agenda for public discourse and provoke a deeper consideration of their society’s reality; effectively inspiring widespread action and mobilization.

How then do we actively and intentionally engage young people in decisions and policies that shape the continent’s future? How can the youth organize more effectively and create movements that can be sustained? How do we get governments to prioritize youth engagement in governance, and recognize that youth organizing is not a threat but an intrinsic aspect of citizen participation? And on the end of this discourse, how do we harness the power of the creative and digital industries to create and expand economic opportunities for Africa's youth? And in cases where opportunities exist, how can young people be empowered to actually use them?