---
title: "African Alternatives: The Future of Creative Cities"
date: 2024-04-05T16:18:00Z
modified: 2024-05-04T12:47:07Z
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/event/african-alternatives/"
type: event
status: publish
excerpt: What will life look like in 2050 for a young person growing up in Africa now? How can culture address the challenges of rapid urbanisation and lead to sustainable development in people, place and planet?
wpid: 164899
categories:
  - Event
tags:
  - Data
  - Heritage
  - UN Sustainability Goals
region:
  - World Cities Culture Forum
city-region:
  - Africa
topic:
  - Leadership
  - Policymaking
  - Urban Development
featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Africa-2.jpg"
---

## Navigating Urban Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring the Impact on Culture, Youth, and Sustainable Development by 2050






By 2050, the African population is expected to double with 80% of this growth in cities and mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rapid urbanisation presents challenges, not least for the cultural and creative industries of the capitals in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What will life look like in 2050 for a young person growing up in Africa now? How can culture address the challenges of rapid urbanisation and lead to sustainable development in people, place and planet?

- What is the ‘best practice’ in cultural policy in Sub-Saharan African cities?
- What can city leaders do to support creativity and innovation?
- How can we build an African network of creative cities?

![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Africa-2.jpg)

This online event brought together policymakers, city leaders, researchers and stakeholders from across Sub Saharan Africa, building on our partnership with ‘[The Creative Vibrancy Index for Africa](https://creativevibrancyindex.africa/en-US)’ which ranks the growth and vibrancy of Africa’s creative industries.

Hosted by World Cities Culture Forum, this event was run in partnership with [Andani.Africa](https://andani.africa/) and the [British Council](https://www.britishcouncil.org/) and shares latest insights from our collaborative research into Sub-Saharan African cities’ culture and policy landscape.

**With insights from**:

- Vuyisile Mshudulu, Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage City of Johannesburg
- Lonwabo Mavuso, Co-Director of Andani.Africa
- Victor Mark-Onyegbu, Grants Lead, Africa No Filter
- Sheila Ojei, Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Stakeholder Management at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)
- Laia Gasch, Director of World Cities Culture Forum
- Rachel Magoola, Member of Parliament for Bugweri, Uganda
- Moderated by Ojoma Ochai, Director of Creative Economy Hub

## With introductions from:

- Justine Simons OBE, Founder and Chair of World Cities Culture Forum and London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries
- Skinder Hundal MBE, Director of Arts, British Council