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AMFEST EXPO ‘Lagos 2018’ was held 5^th -6^th July, at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. The event was convened by Kayode Adebayo Media Africa, Gold Rock Inc,USA in Partnership with World Music Expo (WOMEX), Berlin – Germany. The summit was focused on the Business of music, film, fashion, food, creative arts and technology. The AMFEST EXPO platform was created to help standardize and export the products and services of the creativity industries of Africa. The idea is to educate these industries as to the possibilities inherent in the international market, create networking possibilities between local economy players and international professionals. Networking will be necessary to help break the African market into bigger markets, to help increase the revenue possibilities for the sector. The event held for 2days and catered to six creativity industries.

#musicAMFEST
#filmAMFEST
#fashionAMFEST
#foodAMFEST
#creativeartsAMFEST
#techAMFEST

It was well attended by the core professionals of industries and had participation from five countries: United States of America, England, Ghana, Malawi, and Benin.

Sola Oyebade(Mahogany Production), Kbayo..5th July #fashionAMFEST

5^th of July: Morning session combined Creative arts, Culinary arts and Technology Industries. The day was produced by Nneka Abiakam Madunatu, a foremost fashion and art entrepreneur who is a creativity awards recipient at the GTbank Fashion week for her unique ability to tell African stories through her artistic approach towards fashion. Emeka Ossai (www.campuslabs.xyz), a Mandela Washington Fellow, moderated the panel that consisted of:

Jahman Anikulapo (Arterial Network International)
Mofoluwasho Ilevbare (Author‘Cracking the Code to Success’with Brian Tracy)
Rasheed Jaiyeola ( Food Business Entrepreneur ‘Bukka Hut’)
Asiri (Viral Instagram Comedian and Writer ‘ @asiricomedy)
Gbolahan Ayoola ( Visual artiste, painter of ‘Blue Woman’)
Arole (Viral Instagram Comedian and Entrepreneur ‘ @officialarole)

Discussions were held around how we can leverage technology tools to help these industries build proper brand representations of their products and services, market same and scale into the international market for revenue growth. The Afternoon session, #fashionAMFEST, was produced by Mr Tosin Ogundadegbe of The Style Infidel outfit: an award winning stylist who has worked on many major fashion shows in Nigeria. On the panel of #fashionAMFEST was:

Kayito Nwokedi – Contributing Editor and Fashion stylist to Bellanaija style (@kayito_n)
Sola Oyebade – Award winning fashion show producer, CEO of MAHOGANY Int.(@solaoyebade)
Bolajo Fawehinmi – CEO of FEW Model Management, Nigeria’s biggest model scout (@bolajofawehinmi)
Emmanuel Oyeleke – Head Creative at the Emmanuel Oyeleke Photography Signature(@emmanueloyeleke)

Topic for #fashionAMFEST was ‘African Creatives in the Age of the Millennial’. Focus of discussions was on how the African fashion ecosystem must break away from the idea of being secluded and see themselves as a much needed product, service and content provider for the international market. Capacity development and proper positioning to help attract stronger monetary value was also emphasised.

Jahman Anikulapo(Arterial Network), FAARI Africa Rep, Kbayo

6^th July Morning session featured #musicAMFEST #musicAMFEST was produced by Ksheggs of Nairoke Entertainment (A karaoke company with African Content). Topic for #musicAMFEST was “International Successes So Far, What Next?” (Keynote). ‘Culture Assets and Value Exchanges with Bigger Markets’ (Panel Discussion) Panel discussion was moderated by Sijuade Adedokun & Kaycee Delgado Oguejiofor. Panellists were:

Yemi Isaac Falusi (GoldRock Inc, USA)
DJ Jimmy Jatt (‘Africa’s most decorated DJ’@djjimmyjatt)
Sijuade Adedokun (‘President, Artiste Managers Association of Nigeria’ @obasijuade)
Kayce Delgado Oguejiofor(Artiste Manager par excellence, managed top Nigerian acts@ichie16)
Kayode Adebayo (President ‘Kayode Adebayo Media Africa’, Convener of AMFEST EXPO@kbayo123)

Keynote speech, touched on what it means to really be INTERNATIONAL and the need for Nigerians and African professionals not to consider only breaking into the USA as international, but being able to break into new frontiers, away from familiar geographical terrain. The need for African content in various continents was discussed, and even how African sounds are nearer in style to South American and even Asian that most people think. Christine SEMBA skyped in from Piranha Arts/WOMEX Berlin office talking about ‘International Market Opportunities for the African Professional & Practitioners, necessary exposure steps to take for growth of their careers.

Issac Falusi (Goldrock Inc-USA, FEW Model Rep,Kbayo, Kayito Nwokedi (BellaNaija), Mr Rain, Wale Daramola

6^th July Afternoon and Final Session was #filmAMFEST #filmAMFEST was produced by Ropo Ewenla, a Media producer and Director of the Media Department, University of Ibadan. Moderated by Dr F Azeez (Dept. of Arts, Lagos State University). On the panel of discussion was:

Femi Odugbemi (iRep Film Festival)
Jahman Anikulapo(Arterial Network)
Professor Paul Ugor(Illinois State University)

Topic for #filmAMFEST was ‘The African Narrative’ delivered by Jahman Anikulapo of the Arterial Network. Emphasis was on the need for African creatives in film and theatre to develop a mission to tell the African stories in a rich form. To see themselves as translators and interpreters of a unique people and culture, which no one else understands better than they do. Key panel discussion topic was ‘Cultural Amnesia: Digital Documentation to the Rescue’, and was opened by Femi Odugbemi, Convener of the iRep Film Festival, Lagos and renown TV Producer of ‘Tinsel’, ‘Battleground’ etc. Topic was centred on using digital leverages to bridge most of the industry’s deficiencies, while aiming for international standard and excellence regardless. Christine SEMBA was skyped in from Piranha Arts office in Berlin, Germany to talk about showcasing and funding opportunities for film practitioners, especially from the Berlin International Film Festival through Dorothee Wenner.

_Epixode (Ghana), Asiri Comedy, Kbayo, Arole, Gbolahan Ayoola(Blue Woman painting)…5th July ‘#creativeartsAMFEST, #foodAMFEST, #techAMFEST

Closing speech was delivered by the Director,Goldrock Inc, USA ―Mr Isaac Falusi― who congratulated all attendees and resource partners for a great inaugural event and with the announcement of GOLDROCK INC., USA as an Iinternational Business Development & Management company delivering brand, marketing, new market penetration strategies for the African creativity industry. He also stated that the date for AMFEST EXPO 2019 will be announced soon. The event closed to funfair, drinks, karaoke and performances from Ghana (Epixode & Crew) all produced by Nairoke Entertainment Ltd. Other Photos from the event: