Actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has called for increased investment, intellectual property protection, and stronger institutions to transform Africa’s creative influence into sustainable economic wealth.
Mofe-Damijo made the call on Thursday at the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 event held in Lagos, which was themed “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.”
He stated that Africa’s primary wealth extends beyond natural resources to include its stories, music, and cultural heritage. Highlighting examples from the U.S., South Korea, and India, he noted how these nations have leveraged cultural industries into global soft power and economic opportunities.
While acknowledging the international rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion, and visual arts, Mofe-Damijo emphasized that popularity does not automatically translate into prosperity without strategic investment, robust distribution networks, and institutional framework. He urged policymakers to create enabling environments, investors to fund creative enterprises, and artists to protect their intellectual property.
Also speaking at the event, actress Uzo Aduba noted that while African creative outputs are gaining global attention, much of their economic value remains untapped.
Aduba stressed the need to convert creative momentum into jobs, ownership, and sustainable infrastructure, calling on the African diaspora to partner with continental creatives to help shape and benefit from the global creative economy.
