Nine creators have won the CANEX Create-thon, an artificial intelligence competition run by Afreximbank and the Ethiopian-founded start-up Gebeya, at a live pitch finale in Lagos on 6 November.
The CANEX Create-thon, part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, offered a $50,000 prize pool to creators of games, video and music, Afreximbank said in a statement.
Who won the CANEX Create-thon?
First place went to Feven Birhanu in gaming, Racheal Ifeoma Ogugua in video and Ndaya Victoria Mulidiki in music. Second and third places in each category were also named in the statement. Under the published award structure, first prizes are $7,000, second $3,500 and third $1,500.
Gebeya said about 6,000 creators from 43 countries took part, submitting 792 games, tracks and videos built on its Dala Studio platform. The company’s figures were not independently verified.
What else happened at the finale?
The session at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts also marked the launch of the Afreximbank Innovation Lab. Temwa Gondwe, Afreximbank’s director for creatives and diaspora, called for affordable computing power and stronger protection of creators’ intellectual property.
“The question is not whether Africa will participate,” he said. “The question is how much value Africa will create and own and retain.”
What did Gebeya say about AI and creators?
Amadou Daffe, Gebeya’s chief executive, urged young Africans to use AI to build products that generate income, and pointed to local-language tools and local-currency payments as ways to widen access.
Gebeya also acknowledged support from the non-profit IREX. A related Afreximbank initiative in energy finance was reported earlier this year.
FAQ
What is the CANEX Create-thon?
It is a competition under Afreximbank’s CANEX programme in which creators use Gebeya’s Dala Studio to produce games, video and music.
How large is the CANEX Create-thon prize pool?
The prize pool is $50,000, according to Afreximbank, with extra awards for qualifying creators from the top 20 African countries.
Where was the CANEX Create-thon final held?
The live pitch finale took place in Lagos on 6 November during CANEX WKND 2026.
