https://en.sputniknews.africa/20261013/unlocking-africas-creative-capital-why-creative-economy-is-not-luxury-but-necessity--1089924800.html
Unlocking Africa's Creative Capital: Why Creative Economy is Not Luxury But Necessity
Unlocking Africa's Creative Capital: Why Creative Economy is Not Luxury But Necessity
Sputnik Africa
Africa's creative sector is emerging as a powerful driver of economic growth, job creation, and global influence. With millions of youths entering the... 13.10.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-10-13T12:33+0200
2026-10-13T12:33+0200
2026-10-13T12:33+0200
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Unlocking Africa's Creative Capital: Why Creative Economy is Not Luxury But Necessity
Sputnik Africa
Africa's creative sector is emerging as a powerful driver of economic growth, job creation, and global influence. With millions of youths entering the workforce annually, the creative industries offer a sustainable path forward. From creative cities to cultural exports, the continent is transforming its artistic heritage into economic capital.
Africa's cultural and creative industries have been undervalued—relegated to the periphery of economic discourse while extractive sectors dominated national budgets and policy agendas. This perception is now being challenged by a growing coalition of innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs who argue that creativity is not merely a cultural asset but a formidable economic force.Pan-African Frequency engaged in a dialogue with Raoul Rugamba, founder of the pan-African network ‘Africa in Colors’ and a contributing expert to the African Union's arts education policy. The conversation illuminated the transformative potential of the creative economy and offered a strategic roadmap for the continent's future.A recurring theme in Rugamba's discourse is the importance of narrative sovereignty—the ability of Africans to tell their own stories and define their own cultural identity on the global stage.Discover more insights from our outstanding guests on the Pan-African Frequency podcast, proudly brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, and Podcast Addict► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency
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sputnik africa, africa, pan-africanism, youth, creativity, culture, podcasts, economy, development, fashion, music, innovation, аудио
Unlocking Africa's Creative Capital: Why Creative Economy is Not Luxury But Necessity
Africa's creative sector is emerging as a powerful driver of economic growth, job creation, and global influence. With millions of youths entering the workforce annually, the creative industries offer a sustainable path forward. From creative cities to cultural exports, the continent is transforming its artistic heritage into economic capital.
Africa's cultural and creative industries have been undervalued—relegated to the periphery of economic discourse while extractive sectors dominated national budgets and policy agendas. This perception is now being challenged by a growing coalition of innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs who argue that creativity is not merely a cultural asset but a formidable economic force.
Pan-African Frequency engaged in a dialogue with Raoul Rugamba, founder of the pan-African network ‘Africa in Colors’ and a contributing expert to the African Union's arts education policy. The conversation illuminated the transformative potential of the creative economy and offered a strategic roadmap for the continent's future.
“We are 54 countries, 1.2 billion people. We need 18 million jobs every year for people joining the market. And the entire continent definitely needs new income streams to support their own local economies. On the one hand, these new industries present a potential for young people. It presents a way that these young people, these young generations, want to do business, want to connect with the world, and basically want to basically get a job in that space. So on one hand, we don't have a choice than thinking of these industries as a business, as an industry. And on the second hand, it's, I think, a survival for the countries on the continent, for the continent itself to generate new incomes and create jobs for these young people and for their population [...]. We have to come up with how to connect our physical world to the virtual world for us to adapt, adopt more things, and connect with the world. And ultimately, this helps people to do better,” Rugamba explained.
A recurring theme in Rugamba's discourse is the importance of narrative sovereignty—the ability of Africans to tell their own stories and define their own cultural identity on the global stage.
“I think it's also crucial to tell our own stories for not only the survival part but also to attract and to show a different image of our continent and our culture and our history to the rest of the world,” he noted.
Discover more insights from our outstanding guests on
the Pan-African Frequency podcast, proudly brought to you by
Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency 
