On Thursday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m. ET at the US Capitol Visitor Center, the Africa Center—in an event co-hosted by the Office of US Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick—will bring together leading voices in the African creative sector, congressional leaders, policymakers, and business leaders to discuss the importance of protecting African innovation and the role of the United States in supporting the development of intellectual property rights (IPR) frameworks in Africa. 

According to the United Nations, the creative sector will generate twenty billion dollars in revenue per year towards Africa’s economy. With creativity and innovation being clear drivers of economic growth and job creation for the expanding youth population, strengthening IPR frameworks will be essential to ensuring wealth creation for artists.  

The Africa Center recently released a report, “How protecting intellectual property rights in African music, film, and fashion can create opportunity and wealth,” by Eric Guichard. Launched on the margins of UNGA in New York in September, this report highlights the need for stronger IPR and copyright frameworks across the African continent, emphasizing that current policy frameworks for IPR lack the support needed to enforce and protect the work of African creatives. Recognizing the challenges to IPR valuation and monetization, there is also an opportunity for policymakers and investors to address these issues. At the event, Guichard will dive into the main findings from his report, alongside a panel of experts on Africa’s creative industry. 

Join us in-person on Thursday, December 5, at 2:00 p.m. ET at the US Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC 20510.