Africa’s creative industry potential billions in earnings

Music and film are now turning the creative and entertainment tide across the continent. The creatives in Africa are now crowned and featured by other established performers in the developed world, which signals the potential of the creative industry in Africa. 

There are more than 2,500 films made each year in Nigeria’s film hub, “Nollywood”. As modern filmmaking technologies expand across Africa, more works are now done in other developing industries in East and Southern Africa. 

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) find the audio-visual sector to be a honeypot, but it is largely untapped. The industry is estimated to account for $5 billion in revenue in Africa out of a $20 billion potential and employ at least 5 million people. 

On a global scale, cultural and creative industries are estimated to generate about $2.25 trillion annually, 3 per cent of global GDP, and employ around 30 million people worldwide (UNESCO).