Content creation to take centre stage at the Africa Creator Festival

Simangele Legodi

Simangele Legodi

14 April 2026 | 11:12

Entering its fourth edition, the Africa Creator Festival has evolved from a local gathering into one of the continent’s most influential platforms connecting creators, brands and industry stakeholders.

Content creation to take centre stage at the Africa Creator Festival

Africa Creator Festival media launch in Cape Town. Picture: Supplied

The future of Africa’s creator economy will take centre stage at the Africa Creator Festival (ACF), set to take place on 4 and 5 September 2026 in Johannesburg.
Entering its fourth edition, the Africa Creator Festival has evolved from a local gathering into one of the continent’s most influential platforms connecting creators, brands and industry stakeholders.
The ACF recently held a media launch at the Durbanville Hills wine farm in Cape Town were industry leaders, media, creators and brands gathered to dive into how storytelling is driving domestic and regional tourism growth.
The founder of the ACF, Jolene Roelofse. Picture: Supplied

The founder of the ACF, Jolene Roelofse. Picture: Supplied

Speaking to Eyewitness News, the founder of the ACF, Jolene Roelofse, stated that when she started the festival, it was mainly because they were working with a lot of nano and micro-influencers, and a lot of them didn't understand the role that they played within the marketing space.
"So the first two years was all about driving that education with the influencers and the creators. Over the past three years, it's changed quite a bit where it's less about the influence and it's more about the content. I mean, but both entities are important to brand managers.
"And still, besides us trying to now grow the industry by having creators and influencers focus more on additional streams of revenue, because, unfortunately, only a small number of brands spend on these channels, so they need to find other streams of revenue," said Roelofse.
ACF recently held a media launch at the Durbanville Hills wine farm in Cape Town were industry leaders, media, creators and brands. Picture Supplied

ACF recently held a media launch at the Durbanville Hills wine farm in Cape Town were industry leaders, media, creators and brands. Picture Supplied

Conversations at the launch focused on how creators contribute to job creation, tourism growth and the global export of African culture.
A keynote panel highlighted the growing role of digital storytelling in shaping travel and tourism across Africa. Industry experts noted that creators are increasingly influencing travel decisions, boosting domestic tourism, and shining a spotlight on lesser-known destinations.
Speaking at the gathering, travel aficionado Zahirah Variawa Marty highlighted the role of content creation in boosting economies.
“Digital storytelling is more than content; it’s a catalyst for sustainable growth. When creators translate authentic narratives into tangible travel decisions, they unlock jobs, boost local economies, and spotlight Africa’s diverse destinations on the world stage," she said.
ACF recently held a media launch at the Durbanville Hills wine farm in Cape Town were industry leaders, media, creators and brands. Picture Supplied

ACF recently held a media launch at the Durbanville Hills wine farm in Cape Town were industry leaders, media, creators and brands. Picture Supplied

Two additional standalone events have been added to the festival to focuses on key high-growth sectors: travel and sport.
"So this year, what we're going to focus on is a lot more workshops, because our key focus has always been how much to equip the influencers and creators with. And we're also going to have a lot more brands present in the room that they can have a personal connection with and also build their businesses in that way," said Roelofse.
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