CREATIVE ECONOMY PLATFORM LAUNCHES IN AFRICA
The Burns Brothers & The Global Black Economic Forum Announce Resonate Africa Kenya — A Premier Global Convening Platform Supporting $2T market launching in Kenya to Bridge Business, Culture, Film and Music and Accelerate Africa’s Creative Economy
Platform boasts industry leading initial signature partners including the Motion Picture Association (the leading advocate of global film, television and streaming industry), Capital Group Limited, home of 98.4 Capital FM (Kenya's leading urban multimedia company), Strathmore Business School and Africa Media Hub (one of Africa's leading business schools and home to Africa's leading platform advancing business journalism, data storytelling, and the African narrative) and the Africa Digital Media Group (Africa’s leading creative, media and technology skills institution) among many others
Nairobi, Kenya, July 3, 2026. The Burns Brothers and the Global Black Economic Forum proudly announce the launch of Resonate Africa Kenya, a transformative global platform that convenes and unites leaders across business, culture, entertainment, technology, investment, media and innovation to help accelerate the future of Africa’s creative economy.
Set to debut in June 2027 in Tatu City, Kenya, Resonate Africa Kenya will serve as one of the continent’s most ambitious platforms for convenings dedicated to connecting Africa with the global diaspora, international markets, strategic capital and world-class talent. At its core, Resonate Africa Kenya is more than an event platform; it is a movement focused on creating long-term economic impact, expanding access, unlocking opportunity and helping incubate and scale Africa’s rapidly emerging creative economy.
Built around three signature pillars — a Business Summit, Film Festival and Music Activations — Resonate Africa Kenya will bring together some of the world’s leading business executives, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, filmmakers, artists, athletes, creators, innovators, cultural architects and influential voices from across Africa and the global diaspora.
The platform aims to position Africa not simply as a participant in the global economy, but as one of the defining drivers of global culture, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation over the next generation.
“Africa Is The Future of Global Creativity, Culture and Economic Growth”
“Resonate Africa Kenya is about building a bridge between the continent and the world. Creating spaces where investment, storytelling, talent, innovation and relationships can collide to create lasting impact,” said John and Mike Burns, Founders of The Burns Brothers. “This platform is designed to help unlock jobs, partnerships, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and global opportunity while elevating African voices and excellence on the world stage.”
“We are living in a moment where Africa’s influence across creativity, business, culture, technology and media is undeniable,” said Alphonso David, President and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum. “Resonate Africa Kenya will connect global talent, capital and creativity with the immense opportunity emerging across the continent while helping build sustainable ecosystems that drive entrepreneurship, job creation and long-term economic impact.”
The Rise of Africa’s Creative Economy
Globally, the creative economy generates more than $2 trillion annually and accounts for nearly 3% of global GDP, while employing over 50 million people worldwide. Across Africa, the sector is rapidly emerging as one of the continent’s most promising economic growth engines, particularly for youth employment, entrepreneurship and digital innovation.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. By 2050, one in four people globally will be African, positioning the continent at the center of the future global workforce, consumer economy and cultural influence.
According to UNESCO, the African film and audiovisual industry alone has the potential to generate more than $20 billion in annual revenues and create over 20 million jobs across the continent if properly supported through investment, policy and infrastructure. Similarly, Africa’s music industry is projected to experience substantial growth driven by streaming, digital consumption, live entertainment, mobile adoption and global demand for African music and culture.
The broader creative economy — spanning music, film, fashion, gaming, sports, digital media, advertising, tourism, hospitality, creator platforms, technology and entertainment — is increasingly being viewed as one of Africa’s greatest untapped economic opportunities.
In Kenya specifically, the creative economy contributes significantly to GDP through entertainment, tourism, sports, hospitality, media, fashion, digital entrepreneurship and content creation. Kenya’s rapidly growing technology ecosystem, globally recognized innovation hubs, expanding middle class, rising digital infrastructure and increasing international visibility position the country as one of the leading creative and entrepreneurial gateways into Africa.
The Government of Kenya has also demonstrated increasing commitment to the sector through the proposed Creative Economy Bill, which seeks to strengthen Kenya’s creative industries through improved intellectual property protections, funding mechanisms, workforce development initiatives, creator protections, infrastructure investment, distribution opportunities and formal recognition of the creative economy as a strategic pillar of national economic development.
The legislation is viewed as a major step toward helping formalize and scale Kenya’s creative industries while unlocking new opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship, exports and job creation.
Organizers of Resonate Africa Kenya believe the convergence of culture, technology, entrepreneurship, media and global investment creates a generational opportunity for Kenya and Africa to become one of the world’s leading hubs for creativity, innovation and cultural influence. The long-term ambition for Resonate Africa Kenya is not simply to host an annual event, but to help catalyze sustainable economic ecosystems capable of generating investment pipelines, workforce development opportunities, tourism growth, media expansion, entrepreneurial incubation and measurable economic impact across the continent.
Why Kenya. Why Now.
Kenya has increasingly emerged as one of Africa’s leading hubs for innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism, entertainment and cultural influence. As global interest in Africa continues to accelerate, Kenya represents a strategic gateway for international engagement, investment and collaboration across East Africa and the broader continent.
Through Resonate Africa Kenya, organizers aim to showcase the immense power of Africa’s creative economy — spanning music, film, media, sports, hospitality, fashion, technology and digital entrepreneurship — while creating tangible pathways for economic empowerment and workforce development.
The initiative is expected to drive:
Cross-continental partnerships and investment opportunities
Tourism and hospitality growth
Talent development and creative incubation
Media and production expansion
Entrepreneurial growth and innovation
Workforce and job creation opportunities
Greater global visibility for African creators and businesses
Increased international investment into African creative industries
Expanded opportunities for African youth and emerging entrepreneurs
Three Flagship Experiences
BUSINESS SUMMIT
A high-level gathering featuring global CEOs, investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders discussing the future of Africa across the creative economy including but not limited to film, television, music, fashion, gaming, sports, hospitality, AI, and trade.
FILM FESTIVAL
A celebration of global diaspora storytelling and cinematic excellence, spotlighting emerging and established filmmakers and talent while creating new pathways for global distribution, collaboration and investment into African film and television production.
MUSIC ACTIVATIONS
A series of elevated global activations highlighting excellence across diaspora music and culture while recognizing the worldwide impact of diaspora artists, producers and creators shaping global entertainment today.
Why The Burns Brothers, The Global Black Economic Forum & Partners
The Burns Brothers have become widely recognized for building platforms that sit at the intersection of culture, commerce, hospitality, media, entrepreneurship and global relationship-building, with a particular focus on strengthening ties between Africa and the West.
Through partnerships across business, entertainment, education, tourism and investment, The Burns Brothers have consistently championed initiatives designed to expand economic opportunity, amplify Black excellence globally and create sustainable ecosystems around innovation and creativity.
The Global Black Economic Forum has similarly established itself as one of the leading global platforms focused on advancing economic empowerment, equity, leadership and global collaboration for Black communities worldwide.
The Burns Brothers and GBEF also engage with multiple partners across the globe to realize this vision that spans industries. With more than a year before its official launch, Resonate Africa boasts more than half a dozen founding signature partners including:
Motion Picture Association represented by John Gibson
Capital Group Limited, home of 98.4 Capital FM represented by Managing Director, Symon Barguei
Strathmore Business School, African Media Hub represented by Rosemary Okello
Africa Digital Media Group represented by Co- Founder and Chair, Laila Macharia
RedLily Entertainment represented by Founder, Viola Karuri
Mansa World represented by Founder, Chief Moomen
Streamline 360 represented by Founder, Bright Boakye Danquah
Together, the Burns Brothers, the Global Black Economic Forum and their partners bring the relationships, infrastructure, cultural influence, strategic vision and global reach necessary to build a truly world-class platform capable of creating meaningful economic and cultural impact at scale.
A Long-Term Vision for Africa’s Creative Economy
Beyond the annual event experience, Resonate Africa aims to become a year-round ecosystem supporting education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, content creation, investment pipelines, business development, talent incubation and strategic partnerships across the continent.
The broader mission is to help position Africa as a global epicenter for creativity, innovation and economic growth while helping create long-term pathways toward sustainable job creation and generational wealth creation for African communities. As global industries increasingly look toward Africa for inspiration, expansion and opportunity, Resonate Africa seeks to ensure the continent’s creators, entrepreneurs and innovators are not only included in the future — but leading it.
For partnership opportunities, sponsorship inquiries, media accreditation and early registration information, visit: ResonateAfrica.com
