Lagos is set to consolidate its position as Africa’s creative nerve center from November 5 to 8, 2026, as media entity Afrique Femme joins forces with CANEX WKND 2026 to host the sixth edition of the Week-end des African Woman 2.0. The multi-day showcase will take place at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture & Creative Arts (formerly the National Theatre).
Conceived by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, CANEX WKND stands as the continent’s flagship platform for creative and cultural trade.
Operating under the theme “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX ’27,” the 2026 gathering will convene creative entrepreneurs, institutional investors, policymakers, and cultural figures across Global Africa and the diaspora.
Spotlighting Francophone Craftsmanship and Regional Trade
A central feature of the collaboration is Afrique Femme’s curated Exhibition Pavilion, designed to strengthen commercial links between Francophone and Anglophone creative industries.
The pavilion will host curated showcases, retail pop-ups, and private sales from West and Central African designers, highlighting signature collections from labels such as Makeda by AYA Konan, KUMI, KWELAKU, and Galipette Atelier.
Beyond retail, the pavilion aims to showcase the technical skill and commercial readiness of Francophone luxury brands seeking broader market penetration across Sub-Saharan Africa.
High-Level Dialogue on Female Enterprise
The programming will peak on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with the African Woman 2.0 VIP Networking Brunch. The invitation-only session expects to convene between 200 and 250 female executives, policymakers, and diplomats.
Structured around keynote presentations, panel discussions, and targeted business-to-business (B2B) networking, the session will address cross-border trade barriers, capital access, and strategic leadership for women in business.
“Bringing the African Woman 2.0 platform to Lagos alongside CANEX WKND 2026 allows us to bridge linguistic and economic divides in Africa’s creative economy,” stated Aïssata Sidibé N’DIA, Managing Director of RED Côte d’Ivoire and Afrique Femme. “This collaboration is structured to showcase Francophone fashion craftsmanship while unlocking actionable trade and investment pathways across regional corridors.”
Delegate participation for CANEX WKND 2026 is complimentary, though mandatory online pre-registration is required at wknd.canex.africa. Applicants selecting “Visitor / Delegate” are instructed to cite “Afrique Femme” as their referral source.
