On 11 April 2026, Johnnie Walker brought together hundreds of emerging and established creatives at The Forum at The Campus for the AfroExchange Creative Summit; and instead of just discussing the future of African creativity, they got to work building it.

Where Ideas Met Execution

From the moment guests entered the Bryanston venue, the energy felt different. AfroExchange wasn’t positioned as another industry networking event packed with empty buzzwords. It was designed as a hands-on space where artists, musicians, designers and entrepreneurs could collaborate, exchange skills and leave with something tangible.

Throughout the day, guests moved through co-creation labs, live discussions, tutorials and collaborative installations that steadily transformed the venue into a living showcase of African talent.

The summit pushed one clear message: Africa is not an emerging creative market. It is a global source of culture, innovation and influence.

Panels, Conversations and Real Industry Insight

Hosted by Naledi Mallela and Kabelo Moremi, the programme featured conversations with some of the country’s most respected creatives.

Panel sessions unpacked music, art and the structural challenges facing the creative economy, with contributors including Thandi Draai, MUZI and several visual artists shaping the conversation.

A standout fireside chat between Colin Gayle and Diageo’s Ifeoma Agu explored how African creatives can move from local relevance to global impact.

Hands-On Labs and A Proper Celebration

The summit’s strongest feature was its practical focus. Fashion labs explored textile design, music labs opened the creative process, DJ sessions taught mixing fundamentals, while mixology workshops gave guests the chance to create cocktails using Johnnie Walker.

Live artist SK Original created a striking artwork during the event, while the night ended with DJ sets and a headline performance from Kamo Mphela.

The Scene Feed Take

AfroExchange worked because it understood something many summits miss: creatives don’t just need motivation speeches, they need rooms where things happen. Skills, access, collaboration, and honest conversation remain the real currency of the creative industry. If this becomes an annual fixture, it could evolve into one of the most significant cultural platforms on the continent.