Held in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May 2026, the Africa Forward Summit brought together political leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and civil society actors from across Africa and Europe to reflect on the future of Africa–France partnerships. Culture, innovation and youth engagement featured prominently throughout the programme.
The Summit featured screenings of Dream’s Descent, a screen-dance film co-funded by IFAS, alongside presentations of the South African immersive work Kwasukasukela, co-produced with IFAS and directed by Inka Kendzia and Xabiso Vili. The work explores memory, spirituality, territory and contemporary African narratives through immersive technologies.
Unrecorded Voices, an exhibition supported by IFAS and developed in partnership with French studio u2p050, was also showcased during the Summit. Bringing together artworks working at the intersection of history, memory and technology through AI-driven artworks, the project continues to expand its international reach. This follows its premiere at the Playtopia Festival in Cape Town and a showcase at the Création Africa Forum in Lagos in 2025.
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) supported the participation of several Southern African cultural practitioners, including South African spoken-word artist Xabiso Vili, visual artist Inka Kendzia and Malawian creative entrepreneur Fredo Penjuani Kalua.
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