African Creators Rewarded as AI-Powered CANEX Competition Announces Nine Top Performers
Nine African creatives have emerged as winners of the 2026 CANEX Create-thon, a competition designed to encourage the use of artificial intelligence in Africa’s creative and entertainment industries.
The winners were announced following the competition’s final pitching event, which took place on November 6, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of CANEX WKND 2026.
Organised under the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme of Afreximbank, in partnership with Gebeya and the Afreximbank Innovation Lab, the initiative challenged participants to use AI technology to develop original projects across gaming, video and music.
Nine Creators Recognised Across Three Categories
The competition recognised three winners in each creative category.
In the gaming category, Feven Birhanu secured first place, followed by Micheal Nomyongo and Angulu Paul Otoroza.
For the video category, Racheal Ifeoma Ogugua emerged as the winner, while Hassan Ahmed and Temilorun Okediji took second and third positions respectively.
The music category saw Ndaya Victoria Mulidiki claim the top position, with David Ama finishing second and Nadia Eman Ibrahim taking third place.
Thousands of Participants and $50,000 in Prizes
The 2026 edition attracted approximately 6,000 participants from 43 countries, with 792 creative projects submitted through Gebeya’s Dala Studio AI platform.
A total prize pool of $50,000 was allocated to support and recognise outstanding talents. Winners in each category received $7,000 for first place, $3,500 for second place and $1,500 for third place.
The programme also provided participants with access to computing resources and technical support to help transform their creative concepts into functional digital products.
New Opportunities for African Music and Entertainment
Beyond the competition, the CANEX Create-thon highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence in music production, video creation, gaming and digital storytelling.
The initiative also reflects a broader effort to help African creatives benefit economically from emerging technologies while maintaining ownership of their intellectual property.
With AI tools becoming increasingly accessible, independent musicians, producers, filmmakers and digital creators could find new ways to develop content, reach international audiences and build sustainable creative businesses.
The launch of the Afreximbank Innovation Lab during the event further reinforces the organisation’s commitment to supporting innovation and strengthening Africa’s creative economy.
As technology continues to reshape entertainment globally, initiatives like CANEX Create-thon could play an important role in positioning African creators within the next generation of digital creativity.
Source: African Business / African Press Agency (AIP).
