As Africa’s creative economy continues to expand, industry stakeholders are shifting attention from talent discovery to structures that guarantee long-term success. This is the fulcrum of the conversation at the ongoing Showbiz101 2026 Conference and Music Creation Camp in Lagos.
  
The conference, which began on Tuesday, June 23, and is expected to climax on Tuesday, June 30, is currently holding at the Alliance Française (Mike Adenuga Centre), Ikoyi. It serves as a platform to accelerate music collaborations, masterclasses, and global networking. It convenes creatives, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders with a renewed focus on intellectual property protection, business, governance, and sustainable wealth creation.
   
Organised by bridgeAFRIC in partnership with Qtaby Events, the week-long programme is being held under the theme Connecting African Creatives Globally, and it is bringing together artistes, producers, managers, publishers, executives, investors and other industry stakeholders from across Africa and the diaspora.
  
Away from the traditional conference format dominated by panel discussions and keynote conversations, this year’s edition of the conference is centred on an intensive seven-day Intellectual Property (IP) Boot Camp designed to equip creatives with the knowledge and structures required for long-term success.
  
The new approach comes at a time when African music, film, and digital content continue to enjoy unprecedented international visibility. However, industry experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the gap between global success and sustainable wealth creation for many creators.
  
Speaking at the opening session, Victoria Remi Nkong, visionary founder/president of bridgeAFRIC and founder/CEO of Qtaby Events, organisers cum promoters of the Showbiz101 Conference, said that while African creatives are gaining global recognition, the next phase of industry growth must be driven by stronger business structures capable of protecting and monetising creative assets.
  
“The future of the creative economy will not be determined by talent alone. It will be defined by how effectively creators own, manage, distribute, and commercialise their intellectual property,” she said.
  
Nkong noted that the area of focus reflects a growing recognition that creative excellence alone is no longer enough, stressing that in an industry where intellectual property remains one of the most valuable assets, creators must also develop the business knowledge required to protect, monetise and scale their work.

“Despite the global rise of Afrobeats, most African creatives still lack access to mentorship and practical education on how to structure their career professionally, also the right network to help them break into new territories. Showbiz101 was established to address challenges facing creatives, including limited access to mentorship, professional development, and international industry networks,” she added.
 
With the organisers’ unveiling of a bold new direction aimed at strengthening the business foundations of Africa’s creative industry, this year’s edition is designed to equip artistes and creative entrepreneurs with practical tools needed to navigate the increasingly complex global entertainment landscape.
  
Participants were exposed to how to understand ownership rights, licensing, distribution frameworks, contracts, and revenue generation strategies. By bringing together professionals from across music, film, media, and the broader creative ecosystem, Showbiz101 2026 seeks to bridge the gap between creativity and commerce, while fostering conversations around financial sustainability, global competitiveness, and industry best practices.