September 25, 2025
Africon 2025 showcased a various array of the diaspora because it celebrated African achievement.
AfriCon kicked off its 2025 conference with trailblazers, game-changers, and innovators from throughout the diaspora celebrating their storied influence.
Going down on the Omni Resort in Atlanta from Sept. 18-20, a various array of African and Black Individuals got here collectively to community and talk about improvements inside quite a lot of industries. Audio system ranged from content material creators to entrepreneurs and political officers, all participating in conversations on learn how to elevate future leaders and drive progress.
Introduced with Constancy Nigeria Worldwide Commerce and Inventive Join, attendees arrived of their cultural-infused enterprise apparel to begin the jam-packed schedule of foremost stage periods, workshops, and deal-room pitches. With a heightened emphasis on sustainable influence and direct assist, AfriCon supplied 1-on-1s to small-group conferences for rising idea-holders to attach with capital consultants.
As world entrepreneurship and diasporic connection took the forefront, the primary stage held panels that introduced pioneers in fintech sectors, multi media advertising and marketing, and extra. With main themes of navigating a brand new job market within the age of AI to spearheading companies regardless of the obstacles for Black homeowners, audio system shared their insights to the huge viewers.
Panelist Azocha Nkobena spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about how one can maintain their profession with AI, seeing the know-how as a useful resource and never a hindrance of their profession development.
“I do know inside our neighborhood as Black and Brown of us, there’s quite a lot of worry about AI changing our jobs… To ensure that us to guard ourselves, we have to educate ourselves on what it means. We have to perceive how we will use it so as to assist discover our management traits,” defined Nkobena, Managing Director at Accenture.
She added, “From my perspective, we’re in a transformative and disruptive setting proper now. There’s quite a lot of change taking place. Let’s not be fearful about it. Keep forward of it, and as we get to know extra about it, let’s create communities inside our communities to assist educate individuals round us.”
Workshops centered on the inventive and entrepreneurial ambitions of attendees. These intimate gatherings centered on getting tasks to the large display screen and sourcing traders that may carry a model to life. Nonetheless, AfriCon’s choices didn’t cease there. All through the weekend occasion, company may additionally go to an artwork gallery and market stuffed with African-owned companies to assist native entrepreneurs.
Rapper Wale additionally held a foremost stage session, talking on his Nigerian-American upbringing. In his fireplace chat, he inspired all to embrace their cultures amid this renaissance of African music and artwork inside the evolving leisure business.
“Lean into your tradition, lean into your inspiration. It’s a wealthy tradition that now we have, regardless of which tribe. There’s lots to tug from. And even the tradition that raised you right here…lean into your reality and what made you, you,” shared the rapper.
To culminate the festivities, AfriCon additionally hosted its newly-imagined Icon Gala in Atlanta. By means of its show of African brilliance, excellence, and style, the night time embraced a various heritage and accomplishment whereas company wore their most interesting cultural apparel.
As AfriCon celebrates one other yr of empowerment, it commemorates those who have paved the best way for future leaders, all whereas placing the diaspora by itself foremost stage.
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