The multi-venue event, held from November 18 to 23, recorded 28,683 attendees drawn from more than eight countries and over fifty industries, a strong debut for what organisers call a long-term platform for the continent’s creative economy.

Unlike older single-location festivals, EWA 2025 operated through five dedicated hubs spread across the city, Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, Alliance Française and Heritage Place, allowing participants to move between screenings, workshops, markets, showcases and industry meetings with unusual fluidity.

Livespot360 Managing Director, Tiwa Medubi, said the theme for the year bolstered the festival’s purpose. “This year, under the theme ‘Close the Gap,’ we set out to do something very specific: bring talent, capital, policy and platforms into the same room – not in theory, but in practice.” 

She added: “Across every lab, panel, showcase, screening and performance, one thing was clear: the gap between potential and reality is closing, because people are doing the work.”

Diplomats, government officials and cultural leaders were visible throughout the week. Among them were British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, First Lady of Kwara State Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the Minister of Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, and Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture Toke Benson-Awoyinka. 

Baxter noted the diplomatic relevance of the gathering, saying: “Entertainment Week Africa represents a week of celebration, partnership and progress… By Closing The Gap, we’re not just building bridges; we’re creating highways for ideas, talent and investments to flow freely between Nigeria and the UK.”

Over six days, EWA 2025 delivered 61 sessions across its major pillars, film, music, technology and culture. A total of 93 films were screened, including Chronicles of Afrobeat, The Herd, Dust to Dream, and Mama Nike & Magazine Dreams. Many screenings were paired with sought-after director sessions.

Beyond film, the festival staged 20 music showcases and 9 fashion runway presentations. More than 120 designers applied for a place on the EWA runway, with 10 emerging names, including Korede James, Dust of the Earth, Nex by Necca, Josh Amor and Sevon Dejana, selected to present collections exploring contemporary African aesthetics.

Music also brought about a candid gender-equity debate. Tiwa Savage noted the challenge facing female artists: “Out of the top 100 songs in Nigeria on Apple Music, there’s only one female song… The gap is too wide, we need to balance the scale.”

Don Jazzy added: “We’re too masculine… It affects the numbers, the airplay, the clubs”.

Deal Room, Hackathon and Story Lab Drive Innovation

The festival’s Deal Room drew 178 applications, with nine startups advancing into a four-day accelerator. Four, Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr and Sports Reels,  were assessed as ready to scale and attracted investor interest on the spot. Investors present included Future Africa, Askya Investment Partners, Catalyst Fund and Consonance Invest.

A parallel Hackathon selected ten teams for a rapid-build sprint. Three companies, including Musetter, Owambe and Alaba, stood out for developing prototype-ready solutions in music and fashion technology.

Another major highlight was the four-day Story Lab for emerging writers, facilitated by Lani Aisida, Nicole Asinugo and Dami Elebe, and supported by Netflix, Amazon Prime, NdaniTV and Africa Magic. Fifteen candidates were narrowed to eight and completed six pitch-ready concepts.

Cultural Moments and Public Engagement

The week also saw entertainment touchpoints, including “Jokes & Jollof,” where Big Spoon 2025 winner Lucky Chidiebere Obi secured a ₦1 million prize and a forthcoming tour with Basketmouth. In total, EWA generated more than 5 million online engagements and over 800 million digital impressions across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The maiden edition was backed by sponsors and partners such as Livespot, Heineken, Lagos State Tourism, MTN, Pepsi, TikTok, the British High Commission, the High Commission of Canada, the US Embassy, Essenza and Multichoice. Venue and industry partners included Netflix, Amazon Prime, NdaniTV, Africa Magic, ONErpm, Empire, Virgin Music and Xchange.

Founder Deola Art Alade said the team intends to build on the momentum: “Our ambition over the coming years is for Entertainment Week Africa to establish itself as a critical part of the economic, intellectual and artistic capital of this great city. We’re delighted with the first steps towards that.”

Next Edition Confirmed

The festival will return from November 17 to 22, 2026, with an expanded continental programme under the theme “Closing the Gap.” Registration has already opened.

The initiative, which takes place from November 18 to 23, 2025, at the Livespot Entertarium, Lagos, offers selected founders a chance to access ₦25 million in funding, mentorship, and investor partnerships that could boost their business growth.

Why It Matters

Africa’s creative economy is valued at over $20 billion and continues to expand with tech-led solutions transforming music, film, fashion, and design. 

The EWA Deal Room acts as a bridge between visionary founders and the capital they need to scale. 

Over the years, the programme has supported startups such as Esosa, a travel-tech platform connecting the African diaspora; Taghub, an AI-powered influencer marketing network; and Synewave, a revenue-sharing platform for artists. 

Together, these ventures have attracted more than $1 million in cumulative investment through EWA’s ecosystem.

Participants will undergo a three-day accelerator, receiving guidance from leading investors, industry experts, and creative leaders before showcasing their businesses at a Demo Day in front of global stakeholders. 

The platform also promotes meaningful networking, deal flow, and visibility that many founders struggle to secure independently.

Who Can Apply

The EWA Deal Room is open to:

• Founders and co-founders of tech-driven ventures in the creative and entertainment industries, including music, film, fashion, publishing, and design.
• Builders of platforms or tools enhancing distribution, monetisation, analytics, fan engagement, or funding within the creative sector.
• Independent artists, producers, and directors with strong market traction or projects in pre-production or development.
• Emerging entrepreneurs in lifestyle and skincare seeking to scale innovative ideas.
• Managers, rights holders, and distributors looking for funding or strategic partnerships.
• Investors, ecosystem enablers, and industry leaders shaping Africa’s creative and tech sector.

Benefits

• Access to ₦25 million in potential funding and partnership opportunities.
• Exclusive mentorship from top-tier investors and creative industry professionals.
• Investor-ready business model refinement and pitch training.
• Direct exposure to global networks shaping the future of Africa’s entertainment and digital ecosystem.
• Opportunity to pitch live at EWA Demo Day before an audience of global stakeholders and media partners.

How to Apply

Applications are now open via the website. Interested participants should submit details about their business, vision, and traction before the closing date. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of selection.