CRAFT Addis

Beyond the stages, the panels, and the concerts, CRAFT Addis 2026 was made possible by the incredible minds behind the scenes. We want to take a moment to shine a light on the faces and the talent that turned this vision into a reality.

A massive thank you to the entire Zeleman Communications team for your leadership and vision, and to our Social.ly family for the tireless digital ex*****on that kept the world tuned in. It took grit, late nights, and a shared belief in the power of the African creative economy to pull this off.

We’re proud of what we achieved together. Here’s to the team that made it happen. 🥂✨

A major highlight from our time at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum was presenting the CRAFT Excellence Award: The Global Amplifier to Africa Creative Agency.

It was an honor to have Colin Gayle, CEO and Founder of ACA, on stage to receive this award. His work continues to amplify African voices and creativity on a global scale, perfectly embodying the spirit of CRAFT Addis 2026.

AddisAbaba

We are deeply honoured to present the Global Catalyst for Creative Growth to Afreximbank. Their purposeful and relentless pursuit to ensure Creative industries are no longer peripheral, but central to Africa’s development, resilience and global influence.

Through their groundbreaking CANEX Programme, a flagship initiative, launched in 2019, to accelerate the development and monetisation of Africa’s vibrant Creative and Cultural industries, through leveraging the full power of the banks ecosystem from providing financial instruments, services and support, unlocking strategic partnerships and leveraging its influence to address the unique needs of the Creative sector. Thank you Afreximbank. Your work speaks volumes. Congratulations.

Reliving the energy from May 1 at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum. We brought together leading minds to discuss the future of Africa's creative economy - turning creativity into revenue through scalable models and job creation.

The Panelists:

Yared Endale – Head of Eastern Africa & Country Manager, Ethiopia, Visa

Marie Lora-Mungai – Founder & CEO, Restless Global

Naima Mclean – VP of Creator Economy, ALX

Moderated by Shani Senbetta – COO, Zeleman Communications

Looking back at the grand opening when CRAFT Addis 2026 officially launched with powerful insights from industry giants. It was a privilege to hear from Zelalem Woldemariam and other distinguished officials and big names whose vision is driving the African creative economy forward.

Reliving the evening that started it all during our. An elegant night of connection and celebration as we kicked off the CRAFT movement at the National Palace.

CRAFT Addis 2026 is officially a wrap! Over three extraordinary days, we redefined the African creative economy through innovation, tech, and cultural legacy.

From high-stakes dialogues on AI and creative technology to the vibrant CRAFT Marketplace, we witnessed the power of local talent scaling for a global stage. This landmark event also marked the 20th anniversary of Zeleman, celebrating two decades of creative excellence.

The heartbeat of it all was the historic Mulatu Astatke Legacy Concert. It was a profound honor to manage this tribute to the Father of Ethio-Jazz, bridging our rich heritage with the future of innovation.

The festival has concluded, but the momentum is just beginning. We hope you had an amazing time shaping the future with us!