Trace celebrates African excellence at Africa Forward 2026 with a landmark concert in Nairobi to close the summit
Over 5,000 people attended the Trace concert at Kasarani National Stadium during Africa Forward 2026, making history under the patronage of Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron.
Following the successful conclusion of Africa Forward 2026 in Nairobi on May 11–12, Trace proudly reaffirms its role as the world’s leading media and cultural platform championing African creativity, innovation and influence on the global stage.
s one of the summit’s principal media partners and Le Concert Trace+ producer in partnership with the local Kenyan agency Big Box Creative, Trace produced and broadcast a landmark pan-African concert on May 12 at Kasarani Indoor Arena, bringing together some of the continent’s most influential artists in a celebration of African excellence, cultural diversity and creative power.
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“Africa Forward demonstrated the extraordinary creative, entrepreneurial and cultural energy shaping the future of the continent. Through this concert, Trace was proud to celebrate the diversity of African talent, and connect Africa’s voices to the world. Culture is not only influence, it is also a powerful driver of economic transformation and opportunity.” – Olivier Laouchez, CEO, Trace
Le Concert Trace : A Celebration of Africa’s Creative Power
Produced entirely by Trace, the May 12 concert stood as one of the cultural highlights of the summit. Opening the evening, Presidents Macron and Ruto delivered remarks paying tribute to the power of African creativity and Trace’s contribution in bringing this landmark cultural moment to life underlining the importance of culture, youth and creative industries as engines of growth and partnership.
The concert featured a diverse, intergenerational lineup spanning Afrobeats, amapiano, East African sounds and francophone urban music: Youssou N’Dour, Yemi Alade, Bien, Vegedream, Nomcebo, Savara, Nandy, Jose Chameleone, Nesly, Abigail Chams, Kader Japonais and Coster Ojwang, a lineup that embodied the richness and international reach of contemporary African music.
The concert was broadcast live on Safaricom and Trace+, with full viewership figures to be released once consolidated.
Creating beyond the stage: The Novotel Creative Hub
Beyond the concert, Africa Forward became a vibrant space for artistic exchange. In partnership with Set Up Studio, Trace hosted a dedicated creative hub at the Novotel Nairobi Westlands, where artists, producers and creatives from across the continent gathered for recording sessions, networking and cross-cultural collaborations. Several exclusive works born from these sessions will be unveiled in the coming months across Trace platforms.
Two Original Documentaries capturing Africa’s Forward Momentum
Trace is producing two original documentary films capturing the summit’s defining moments: the first exploring the high-level conversations shaping a new Africa–France relationship; the second offering an immersive behind-the-scenes perspective on the concert, the artists’ journeys and the collaborations born in Nairobi. Both will premiere across Trace TV channels worldwide, on Trace+ and Canal+ TV channels.
Africa Forward 2026 : A Historic Summit
Held under the high patronage of the French President Emmanuel Macron and the Kenyan President William Ruto, Africa Forward marked a historic turning point in Africa–France relations. Hosted for the first time in an English-speaking African country, the summit gathered more than 30 Heads of State and Government, international institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, artists and youth leaders around a shared ambition: building a new generation of partnerships based on mutual respect, co-investment and innovation.
On the summit’s main programme, Trace’s CEO Olivier Laouchez participated in the Agora Innovate, highlighting how Trace’s model combining music, culture and digital distribution, positions the group as a key driver of Africa’s digital creative economy.
A Resounding Success for a New Africa–France Partnership
In the spirit repeatedly emphasised throughout the summit, a partnership “built on equal footing” and focused on “shared futures rather than inherited narratives”, Africa Forward 2026 demonstrated the strength of a new dialogue between Africa, France and the world.
“Africa is not a continent of the future; it is the continent of the present.”
With more than 7,000 participants from over 40 countries, economic leaders, innovators, policymakers, artists and creators gathered in Nairobi, the summit highlighted Africa’s growing role as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and culture. Trace is proud to have contributed to this momentum by placing African creativity at the heart of the conversation.
Partners
Africa Forward 2026 and the Trace concert would not have been possible without the exceptional commitment and trust of our partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to:
Safaricom, Meridiam, Equity Bank, Canal+, DStv, UBA, Novotel, Maybelline, L’Oréal Professionnel, Magical Kenya, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Big Box, Le Grenier à Pain, RFH Healthcare, Kenya Airways, Kwal, BAL, Nairobi Street Kitchen, Bpifrance, the Sherrie Silver Foundation, Kilian, Total Energies, TicketYetu, The Good Picture, the Ministry of Sports, Culture & Heritage of Kenya, Brands on a Mission, Sensitive Group, AdVoice, the French Republic, the Republic of Kenya, AFD, Ciel, Kalunza, as well as all other institutional, cultural and private partners who contributed to the success of this historic gathering.
Their engagement reflects a shared belief in Africa’s creative, economic and cultural potential and the importance of building forward-looking partnerships across the continent and beyond.
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