Livespot360 strengthened its cultural and creative significance on the continent with the successful launch of Entertainment Week Africa (EWA), which took place from November 18 to 23 across multiple venues in Lagos, Nigeria. The six-day festival attracted about 29,000 attendees to conferences, screenings and workshops across the entertainment industry under the theme “Close the Gap.”

With a lineup of industry thought leaders and dignitaries that strengthened Livespot360’s position as a major creative and entertainment force, the success of EWA2025 left in its trail multiple insights that bode well for the continent’s entertainment scene. Here are five takeaways from the festival.

EWA 2025 Pulled Massive Pan-African Attendance and Industry Diversity

If there is anything EWA 2025 reinforced, it is that Lagos is Africa’s entertainment and creative capital. Over the six days, the festival welcomed 28,683 pass-holders from more than eight countries, mostly from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and the UK.

Beyond the impressive geographic representation, the diversity of attendees highlighted the event’s interdisciplinary nature. Participants came from more than 50 industries, notably entertainment, creators, advertising, music, technology, media, marketing, filmmaking, business consulting, events, design and public relations and communication services.

EWA Redefined Multi-Venue Programming

EWA 2025 distinguished itself with the dynamic multi-venue format that advanced what it set out to achieve. Events took place across five major hubs: Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, Alliance Française and Heritage Place. This approach eased the usual hurdles that trail attendees face as they move between disciplines and helped ensure a holistic experience of Africa’s creative ecosystem.

The programming was ambitious in scale and content, featuring 61 sessions, 93 films, 20 music showcases and 9 fashion presentations, alongside hackathons and labs for emerging talent. Each space had its own rhythm, from the high-energy performances in the music hubs to the deep-dive discussions in the film and panel spaces. This allowed attendees to engage meaningfully with programmes that resonated with their professional or creative pursuits.

Well-Matched Guests and Dignitaries

It is one thing for scheduled guests to be fitting beyond a reasonable doubt and another entirely for them to deliver. The inaugural edition of Entertainment Week Africa demonstrated how both can be done effectively. The opening night drew notable dignitaries, including the British Deputy High Commissioner Johnny Baxter, the First Lady of Kwara State, Her Excellency Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson Awoyinka, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole and others. Together, they lent weight to the festival’s diplomatic and economic significance.

Similarly, Afrobeats acts including Yemi Alade, Waje, Qing Madi, Teni, Sasha P, Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy were present for a landmark gender-equity conversation. Tiwa Savage noted, “Out of the top 100 songs in Nigeria on Apple Music, there is only one female song. The gap is too wide; we need to balance the scale.” Her former label boss, Don Jazzy, added, “We are too masculine. It affects the numbers, the airplay, the clubs.”

In addition, designers such as Korede James, Dust of the Earth, Nex by Necca, Josh Amor, PK Crochet, Estaz, David Black, Bernard Samuel and Sevon Dejana were also present, each showcasing forward-thinking interpretations of contemporary African style.

Investment in Potential and Entrepreneurial Focus

Another standout from EWA 2025 was its deliberate emphasis on linking creative talent to capital. The Deal Room and Hackathon offered creators and startups a platform to present ideas to investors and industry experts. From more than 178 entries, 9 companies advanced to the accelerator programme, with four of them, namely Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr and Sports Reels, emerging as investment-ready.

The Hackathon extended this ethos by introducing 10 teams to an immersive, two-day environment to refine their projects. Notable successes like Musetter in music technology and Owambe in fashion technology demonstrated how fast-paced mentorship and real-time feedback could unlock growth potential.

Global Digital Reach and a Solid Foundation for Continued Growth

The physical scale of EWA 2025 was matched by its online footprint, achieving more than 5 million engagements and 800 million impressions worldwide. By leveraging digital platforms, the festival expanded its reach beyond Africa and connected with audiences in Asia, Europe and North America. This level of reach raises the profile of the festival and signals to potential global investors and partners the emerging strength of Africa’s entertainment ecosystem, even as EWA 2026 is already shaping up to build on the foundation of the inaugural edition.

Set to return from November 17 to 22, 2026, and themed “Closing the Gap,” registration for the sophomore edition of the festival is already ongoing at EWA’s website. EWA 2026 is expected to feature expanded pan-African programming and a continued commitment to accelerating growth in the creative industry across the continent. Just as Deola Art Alade, Founder of Entertainment Week Africa, noted, “Our ambition over the coming years is for Entertainment Week Africa to establish itself as a critical part of the economic, intellectual and artistic capital of this great city. We are delighted with the first steps towards that.”