Africa's Creative Economy on the Rise: Melissa Kariuki to Speak at WTO Public Forum 2025

Strategic Insights -

Africa's creative economy is on the cusp of a revolution, with the continent's valuation expected to reach a staggering $200 billion by 2030. The growth of the African creative economy is not just about artistic expression, but also about unlocking new trade opportunities and driving economic growth. Melissa Kariuki, Founder and CEO of Whip Music and one of the GRAMMYs' 13 Women Shaping African Music, has been invited to speak at the prestigious World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, where she will highlight the importance of digital policies and technology infrastructure in bridging digital divides and enabling African creators to scale globally.

Key Takeaways:

  • Melissa Kariuki, Founder and CEO of Whip Music, has been invited to speak at the WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva, solidifying her position as a recognized emerging global thought leader.
  • Kariuki will speak on 'Bridging Digital Divides Through Local Solutions', highlighting the potential for African creators to reach global markets, scale new industries, and shape the future of trade with the right digital policies and local solutions.
  • The African creative economy is currently valued at $58.4 billion, accounting for roughly 4 percent of the continent's GDP and representing less than 0.3 percent of global creative exports.
  • Analysts predict that with the right digital policies and trade frameworks, African creative exports could reach $200 billion by 2030, potentially accounting for 10 percent of global creative goods trade.
  • The creative sector in South Africa generated roughly the same amount of revenue as agriculture at $8.7 billion (R161 billion) in 2020.
  • Kariuki will join a lineup of influential speakers, including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General and Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

Statistics:

  • The African creative economy is currently valued at $58.4 billion.
  • Analysts predict that African creative exports could reach $200 billion by 2030.
  • The creative sector in South Africa generated $8.7 billion (R161 billion) in revenue in 2020.
  • Africa's creative economy accounts for roughly 4 percent of the continent's GDP.
  • African creative exports currently represent less than 0.3 percent of global creative exports.

Sources:

  • [1] Melissa Kariuki, Founder and CEO of Whip Music, invited to speak at WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva.
  • [2] 'Melissa Kariuki to speak at WTO Public Forum 2025 in Geneva', GRAMMYs (2025).
  • [3] 'Africa's creative economy to reach $200 billion by 2030', Hotlist Africa (2025).
  • [4] 'South Africa's creative sector generates R161 billion in 2020', South African Institute of International Affairs (2020).
  • [5] World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2025 program.
  • [6] 'UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno to speak at WTO Public Forum 2025', UNCTAD (2025).