The summit, organized by Pulse of Africa in partnership with AGA Tech Enterprise, also includes more than 120 Ethiopian content creators, further expanding the event’s total digital reach and reinforcing Ethiopia’s growing role in Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Positioned as one of the first continent-wide platforms dedicated exclusively to social media influencers, ASMIS signals a structural shift in Africa’s digital landscape, from fragmented creator activity toward a more coordinated and commercially integrated industry.

Across multiple sessions, participants are expected to explore monetization strategies, cross-border collaboration, artificial intelligence in content creation, and the role of digital influence in shaping Africa’s global narrative.

Organizers say the summit is designed as a networking platform and as a step toward building a unified voice for African creators within the global digital economy.

Globally, platforms such as VidCon have demonstrated how creator ecosystems evolve into structured markets spanning advertising, commerce, and digital services.

Analysts note that Africa is increasingly following a similar trajectory, driven by mobile-first adoption and rapidly expanding digital access.

Ethiopia’s role as host aligns with its ongoing digital transformation agenda under Digital Ethiopia 2030, which focuses on expanding broadband infrastructure, increasing mobile penetration, and accelerating access to digital services that position the digital economy as a central pillar of national growth.

Industry observers emphasize that the rise of Africa’s creator economy is closely tied to underlying telecom infrastructure. Expanding mobile broadband coverage, improved data accessibility, and platform proliferation have collectively lowered barriers to content creation and distribution at scale.

In Ethiopia, this foundation has been shaped by sustained investment in network expansion and digital services, driven largely by Ethio telecom, alongside broader sector reforms aimed at increasing competition and accelerating innovation across the market.

As a result, a new generation of Ethiopian and African creators is emerging, not only as content producers, but as participants in a wider digital economy spanning advertising, e-commerce, fintech integration, and platform-based services.

The convening of ASMIS 2026 in Addis Ababa underscores a broader inflection point: Africa’s creator economy is transitioning into a recognized industry with measurable reach, growing economic relevance, and increasing influence on global digital culture.

As the summit unfolds, the attention of hundreds of millions of digital users worldwide is effectively concentrated on Addis Ababa, highlighting the city’s emergence as a platform where digital policy, infrastructure, and creative industries intersect within Africa’s evolving digital future.

The partnership will strengthen the planning, delivery, and sustainability of the Africa CDC International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) and other flagship public health convenings at a time of heightened demand for coordinated health leadership across the continent.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya and Informa Markets President for Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa Mr Peter Hall signed the agreement, which combines Africa CDC’s scientific leadership with Informa’s global expertise in large-scale event management.

The goal is to enhance the quality, reach, and long-term sustainability of Africa’s premier public health platforms.

“This partnership reinforces Africa CDC’s commitment to strengthening continental ownership of public health priorities,” said Dr Kaseya.

“CPHIA has become a critical forum for African experts and leaders to set the continent’s health security agenda. Informa Markets’ support will help expand the conference’s reach and impact while preserving Africa CDC’s full scientific, strategic, and convening leadership.”

Under this partnership, Africa CDC reinforces the institution’s central role in advancing continental priorities, including its 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda.

Informa Markets, a global leader in exhibitions and organiser of World Health Expo, will leverage its global reach, industry expertise and experience to elevate CPHIA’s scale, visibility and impact across Africa and internationally.   

Peter Hall, president for Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa at Informa Markets, added:

“This partnership reflects a strong alignment of vision between Informa Markets and Africa CDC. Drawing on over 50 years’ experience delivering trusted global healthcare events, Informa Markets is proud to support CPHIA’s continued growth. Together, we will ensure CPHIA 2026 delivers lasting value for Africa’s public health ecosystem”.

Since its inaugural edition in December 2021, Africa CDC has convened four editions of CPHIA, each building momentum as the continent’s leading forum for public health dialogue, policy alignment, and scientific exchange.

The conference has brought together Heads of State, Ministers of Health, researchers, frontline health workers, private-sector leaders, and global institutions, cementing CPHIA’s role as a central platform for shaping Africa’s public health agenda.

The fifth edition, CPHIA 2026, will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with thousands of delegates expected to attend.