The timbuktoo Creatives Hub Showcase in Cape Town shone a spotlight on the growing power of Africa’s creative economy as both cultural expression and economic opportunity. The event brought together artists, entrepreneurs, government leaders, and ecosystem partners to celebrate the hub’s establishment and its role as a catalytic space for Africa’s creative industries.
As part of UNDP’s pan-African timbuktoo initiative, the Cape Town Creatives Hub — with UVU Africa as the lead implementation partner — is one of several hubs across the continent designed to scale youth-led innovation in key sectors including AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech and the Creative Industries. Together, these hubs form a bold, distributed network turning creativity and innovation into investable, scalable enterprises.
The hub was established in partnership with UNDP, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), the Craft and Design Institute, Snake Nation, and UVU Africa, and is located at the Homecoming Centre in District Six — a site rich in cultural and historical significance. The facility provides free co-working space, mentorship, and incubation support to creative entrepreneurs who are building sustainable ventures and contributing to the continent’s creative economy.
The Showcase brought this vision to life through inspiring addresses, creative performances, and exhibitions from the hub’s entrepreneurial cohort. It also featured a virtual presentation of the timbuktoo Ideation Programme, run by UVU Africa and presented by Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development, spotlighting 30 entrepreneurs from nine African countries who are shaping ventures with the potential to scale across the continent.
Dr Gloria Kiondo, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, captured the spirit of the moment:
“Africa is ready. The talent is here. The Creative Industry is not a side story, but a central chapter to Africa’s development story.”
For UVU Africa, the establishment of the hub and the Showcase represent catalytic steps towards building a Creative Cluster that positions Africa’s creative economy for growth and investment. This cluster will anchor sectors such as film, animation, music, design, gaming, and other creative industries as engines of innovation, livelihoods, and global competitiveness.
Read more here
