Africa Soft Power Summit 2025: Nairobi at the Crossroads of Culture, Capital, and Global Influence

By Nik Jackson

In May 2025, Nairobi takes centre stage as the beating heart of a continent in motion. From May 21st to 25th, the city plays host to the Africa Soft Power Summit, a high-level convergence of thinkers, makers, doers, and visionaries from across Africa and the global diaspora. More than just a conference, this is a declaration: that Africa’s influence, intellect, and innovation are not waiting to be acknowledged—they are already shaping the world.

Organised by the Africa Soft Power Project, the summit builds on a powerful ethos: that the future of African power lies not only in minerals, exports, and GDP, but in our ideas, our identity, and our ability to tell our own stories—through film, tech, policy, business, and beyond.

Why Nairobi? Why Now?

Hosting this landmark event in Nairobi is both symbolic and strategic. Kenya is emerging as one of Africa’s most dynamic economies—a nexus of East African finance, digital innovation, and cultural production. Nairobi, in particular, is home to an ambitious creative class and a thriving startup ecosystem. It’s a city where coders, chefs, artists, activists, and CEOs walk the same streets—and often, share the same ambitions.

To bring the summit here is to acknowledge that Nairobi is not a side-note in Africa’s story. It is a headline.

“At a time when the world faces growing challenges at macro level, spanning everything from climate change, to sustainability, AI, shifting socio-political landscapes and beyond, it is more important than ever before to showcase diverse perspectives and emerging solutions. Africa’s creative and tech sectors have already proven themselves to be a powerful engine for growth on the global stage, and African soft power can be a hugely influential force in driving positive change.

“This year’s move to Nairobi builds on the success of previous editions held in Kigali, Rwanda. The move to Nairobi is a strategic decision. Kigali was an exceptional host for three years, helping us build strong foundations. Nairobi provides an opportunity to tap into a broader regional ecosystem while reinforcing the pan-African vision at the heart of our mission”.

Nkiru Balonwu, Founder, ASP Group

Held at the Hyatt Regency Westlands, a sleek, modern hub in the heart of the city, the summit will channel this energy into five days of bold conversation, strategy, creativity, and celebration. The 2025 theme—“Africa’s Growth Engine: Aligning the Flow of Money, Innovation, and Global Opportunities”—captures the urgency and ambition of this moment.

A Strategic Framework: The Four Pillars

The summit is anchored by four thematic pillars, each reflecting a critical dimension of Africa’s evolving soft power landscape:

1. Capital Currents

What does it mean to follow the money in 2025? This track examines the movement of global capital and Africa’s place within it—exploring venture trends, private equity, public sector reform, and how creative and tech ecosystems can better align with financial flows.

2. Redrawing Borders

Remittances now account for more than $100 billion in annual inflows to the continent. This pillar looks at how diaspora capital, fintech innovation, and new models of cross-border partnership are helping to reimagine what “African development” can look like—more self-defined, resilient, and interconnected.

3. Name and Sustain

From Burna Boy and Beyoncé’s African collaborators, to the global rise of African fashion houses and Netflix-backed Nollywood productions, African creativity is in demand. But how do we move from moments of success to sustainable industries? This pillar asks the hard questions: about policy, infrastructure, ownership, and long-term value creation.

4. Intelligent Economics

AI is already changing how we work, live, and create. This track explores how African businesses, governments, and creatives can proactively shape the role of artificial intelligence, digital commerce, and innovation in local and regional economies—before the rules are written elsewhere.

Summit Schedule: A Week of Influence

Here’s what to expect:

  • Wednesday, May 21
    Arrivals & Opening Cocktails – An elegant welcome to Nairobi’s vibrant cultural scene, with space to connect and network.

  • Thursday, May 22
    Remarkable African Women’s Leadership Conference – Featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, and case studies led by women who are breaking barriers across sectors.

  • Friday 23rd morning and evening
    Creative & Innovative Industries Conference – A full day of deep-dive sessions into film, music, fashion, tech, policy, and business.
    Africa Soft Power Gala & Awards – A glamorous night recognising excellence in leadership, innovation, and creativity.

  • Saturday & Sunday, May 24–25
    Explore Nairobi – City tours, curated excursions, and a special Climate Change Photo Essay Exhibition, celebrating African environmental narratives through art and visual storytelling.

A Who’s Who of African Influence

This year’s speaker list reads like a who’s who of African leadership across sectors. Confirmed names include:

  • Hon. Justice Martha Koome, Chief Justice and President, Supreme Court of Kenya

  • Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, Executive Chairman, FIRS (Nigeria)

  • Temi Popoola, CEO, Nigerian Exchange Group

  • Chi Ogbuehi, VP, Marketing Tech & Consumer Products, NFL

  • Mehret Mandrefo, Emmy-nominated producer & co-founder, Realness Institute

  • Judy Kibinge, award-winning filmmaker and founder, Docubox

  • Sneha Mehta, co-founder of Uncover

  • Bernard Kinara, Kenya Country GM, Interswitch

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  • Kojo Boakye, Director of Public Policy, Meta

  • Lorna Omondi, Partnerships Lead, Google Research Africa (AI/ML)

  • Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS

  • Aliya Shariff, Mastercard Foundation, Africa Catalytic Impact Fund

  • Dr. Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, Senegalese Association for Artificial Intelligence

  • Kola Aina, Founding Partner, Ventures Platform Fund

  • Hon. Millie Odhiambo Mabona, Member of the Kenyan Parliament

  • And many more innovators, investors, public intellectuals, and cultural tastemakers

A Vision for What Africa Can Be

This summit matters because it asserts something bold and necessary: that Africa is no longer content with being a consumer of global trends. We are originators. Storytellers. Architects of the future. The Africa Soft Power Summit 2025 is not just a space for reflection—it is a platform for action.

At a time when the world is asking hard questions about equity, innovation, representation, and climate, this summit invites us to respond from a place of power—and with a distinctly African voice.

As Nairobi prepares to host this defining event, the city is ready to do what it does best: spark ideas, build bridges, and shine on a global stage.

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For full details, registration, and partnership opportunities, visit:
🌍 theafricasoftpowerproject.com/africa-soft-power-summit-may-2025