For us, the year 2024 was about redefining creativity by rethinking the “Detty December” experience. But December posed a challenge. Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape had shifted. Consumer spending was tight, brand investments were cautious, and the typical flood of large-scale concerts had slowed. But in true Livespot360 fashion, we turned a challenge into a canvas for reinvention.
We doubled down on our commitment to shaping culture and creating experiences that matter. To keep the city pulsing, we deployed Entertainment Week Lagos 2024 as a multilayered approach to Detty December, integrating local-global industry networking, fashion, film, music, art, and nightlife into a seamless, high-engagement cultural moment.
(EWL Founders Dare and Deola Art Alade; Emmy Nominated Cinematographer Nausheen Dadabhoy; Awardwinning photographer Kelechi Amadi Obi; Memers and representatives of the US Consulate in Nigeria; Awardwinning Dancer Kaffy and others)
THEME: “CONNECTING TIDES”
Under the theme “Connecting Tides,” EWL 2024 turned Lagos into a cultural capital with over 10,000 attendees and over N300 Million in reach and PR value, setting the stage for a December that welcomed an unprecedented influx of tourists and international acts into Nigeria.
(Creative entrepreneur Darey Art Alade co-hosting the EWL 2024 opening party with LIBO, the EWL customerfriendly Robot guide.)
According to reports, Lagos welcomed approximately 1.2 million tourists, driving an impressive ₦111.5 billion in revenue across the tourism and entertainment sectors.
But beyond the numbers, EWL 2024 was a creative renaissance. From silent cinemas and AIdriven showcases to digital innovation labs and the creators’ hub, EWL 2024 embraced emerging technologies not as a novelty, but as a necessity. Creators collaborated across borders and disciplines, while digital tools enabled hybrid participation, content creation, and real-time innovation.
UNIFYING A CONTINENT, EMPOWERING A GENERATION
Launched as a free-for-all destination convention, Entertainment Week Lagos (EWL) has evolved into one of Africa’s leading cultural and educational convening and a convergence point for talent, innovation, and opportunity collide.
(EWL Fashion Coterie for Creatives to experience and showcase fashion innovatively. Our Runway was also designed to deliver a highly immersive and tech-driven experience to also help attendees interact with the runway)
This week-long gathering is positioned as both a mirror reflecting the brilliance of Africa’s present and future, and as a pan-African force for empowerment, bridging the gaps between talent and opportunity, local and global, art and enterprise.
Through a rich mix of immersive experiences, it connects aspiring and established creatives with industry thought leaders, policymakers, educators, and global investors across key verticals such as Tech, Film and TV, Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Music, Digital Innovation, Art, and Enterprise Development.
EWL AS A PURPOSE-DRIVEN INTERVENTION
Nigeria’s creative sector is grappling with a widening skills gap, worsened by limited structures for knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and sustainable career pathways. Many young creatives possess world-class potential yet face systemic barriers to accessing professional opportunities. Without deliberate intervention, the future of Africa’s creative industries risks being stifled before it ever reaches full bloom.
(Multi Award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele poses with students after a masterclass session on Passion to Profit at EWL)
(Emmy-nominated cinematographer, Nausheen Dadabhoy during a workshop on Breaking Through The Frame at Entertainment Week Lagos)
At the core of Entertainment Week Lagos also sits our mission to arrest the growing exodus of Africa’s brightest minds and transform the continent’s creative brain drain into an unstoppable brain gain by connecting them with global leaders, providing tools for upskilling, creating access to funding, and giving them the platforms to be seen, heard, and valued.
(Award-winning actress Omowumi Dada having an interactive session with attendees after a movie screening at Entertainment Week Lagos)
With nearly 100 speakers, Emmy-nominated icons, masterclasses, and hybrid activations, we introduced EWL 2024 as a non-stop ecosystem of learning, networking, ideation, and expression, from morning to midnight, online and offline.
(Hybrid masterclass experience with award-winning AI Artist Lisa Russell)
THE FORMAT: MULTI-VERTICAL, MULTI-SENSORY
The experience spanned day and night, with curated programming across multiple verticals:
- Labspot Creative Skills & Enterprise Development (Labspot CSED)
Focused on year-round upskilling and training for creatives and MSMEs across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and Africa at large. LabSpot CSED also prioritizes youth and women, offering masterclasses, startup labs, and a “Deal Room” that facilitates direct investor engagement.
2. The Circle
A space for deep intellectual and policy-driven conversations, The Circle hosts fireside chats, think tanks, and keynotes from global thought leaders. Each year, it culminates in a published report of actionable insights, strategies, and policy recommendations shaping Africa’s creative future.
3. Gen-Z Republik
(A youth-focused panel session with award-winning content creators and influencers Enioluwa, Hauwa Lawal, Korty, Hawa Magaji, and Kanyinsola Aroyewun)
A youth-focused hub amplifying voices of 16–26-year-olds—a rising generation of creators and digital natives—through pop-culture, innovation, and immersive experiences.
- The Film Hub
A sensory celebration of African storytelling. Through silent cinema screenings of indie films from across the continent, the Film Hub offered emerging filmmakers a global platform.
5. The Marketplace, Showcases & Experiences
From immersive art and VR to beauty showcases, food, tech, and live fashion installations, creatives were able to show, sell, and shine.
EWL AT NIGHT: A WEEK OF ICONIC MOMENTS
When the sun set, the Livespot Entertarium transformed. Every 24 hours, the space was reimagined, rebuilt, and reborn. No two nights were the same, each delivered an immersive world of creativity, storytelling, and surprise.
The Runway Coterie
A fashion-meets-tech showcase that featured prominent diverse fashion enthusiasts, designers, and AI creators including a globally recognized ‘Elder Series’ by awardwinning creator Malik Afegbua; and a special appearance by Richard Mofe-Damijo, pushing the boundaries of Afrofuturism and style.
Jokes N Jollof – Clash of the Cs
A night of culinary indulgence and comedy mastery, where Nigeria’s top comedians— SLK, Efe Warri Boy, Forever, Broda Shaggi, Brain Jotter, Layi Wasabi, Carter Efe, and more used laughter as a lens for social commentary.
The Waiter Movie Premiere
A glamorous black-tie event for the unveiling of AY Makun’s latest film. A celebration of Nigerian cinema’s growing global reach.
Turn Up Lagos – The Grand Finale
A cultural star-studded convergence with local and international acts including Mo Abudu, Ramsey Nouah, 2Baba, Nancy Isime, and more. Setting Measurable Objectives – and Delivering Beyond
From the onset, EWL’s objectives were bold yet clear:
- Upskill youth and entrepreneurs within the creative industry through tailored training, mentorship, and enterprise development.
- Bridge the local-global gap by connecting African creatives with global icons, funders, and media.
- Ignite sustainable economic value through knowledge-sharing, job creation, and innovation-driven programming.
- Establish Lagos—and by extension, Africa—as a global creative destination.
By the 2024 edition, EWL had already made tangible progress. Over 2,000 African youth had been upskilled through Labspot CSED programming alone, with a target of 250,000 youth and 5,000 businesses empowered by 2029. And with 15,000+ attendees from Nigeria, other African nations, and the diaspora—EWL is evolving into a pan-African cultural movement with ripple effects across sectors.
Star Power Meets Policy Power
EWL 2024’s theme, “Connecting Tides,” captured its dual role as a cultural bridge and talent accelerator. Featured speakers and dignitaries included:
- E. Amb. Prof Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State
- Fegho Umunubo, Special Adviser to the President on Digital & Creative Economy
- Nausheen Dadabhoy, Emmy-nominated Cinematographer
- Lisa Russell, Emmy-winning Filmmaker & AI Storytelling Pioneer
- Funke Akindele, Nollywood Icon
- Malik Afegbua, Digital Artist & Slickcity CEO
- Odumodu Blvck, Enioluwa, Frank Edoho, Kaffy, Joey Akan, and more—spanning music, podcasting, content creation, and business.
Each brought fresh perspectives, mentorship, and invaluable access to over 15,000 creatives seeking clarity, direction, and validation for their craft.
Exploitation, Amplification & Reach
The strategic exploitation of EWL’s impact included:
- Media & PR amplification across Africa and the diaspora
- Social media virality (via TikTok, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn)—with communitygenerated content driving real-time buzz
- Partnerships with embassies, multinationals, cultural agencies, and tech innovators
- A community-led content pipeline that featured creators and thought-leaders long after the event concluded
Return on Investment & Return on Objectives
For a free-for-all experiential initiative, EWL delivered both quantitative and qualitative ROI:
- Tangible Value: Free access for 15,000+ attendees; free upskilling programs; business development resources; and tools for emerging creators.
- Intangible Value: National and international goodwill; positioning Lagos as Africa’s entertainment capital; catalyzing talent retention and reversing creative migration.
Its ROO was equally impressive. Every activation tied back to one of three goals: empowerment, connection, and opportunity. EWL wasn’t just helping creatives stay, it’s giving them reasons to lead.
Future-Fit by Design
From silent cinemas and AI-driven showcases to digital innovation labs and the creators’ hub, EWL 2024 embraced emerging technologies not as a novelty, but as a necessity. Creators collaborated across borders and disciplines, while digital tools enabled hybrid participation, content creation, and real-time innovation.
The event is continuously evolving: data-driven, youth-led, and future-fit.