KIGALI, Rwanda, August 29, 2026. For a long time, African digital creators were seen mainly as tools for brand promotion. But when the first-ever Africa Mindset Reset Forum opened in Kigali this week, digital creators showed they were no longer confined to making advertisements: they helped shape policy and the continent’s future.
To ensure young people have a voice in these decisions, Influencer Africa collaborated with the African School of Governance (ASG) to bring the voices of new media directly into the conversation.
Giving Young People a Seat at the Table
The event, hosted by ASG, took place on August 25 and 26, 2026. Prominent African leaders and policymakers were in attendance, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
But the organizers made a deliberate choice: 80% of the people at the forum were young leaders.
Through this partnership, Influencer Africa helped turn that goal into practice. The 34 creators brought to Kigali were not there simply to take photos or produce content. They were there to speak up, share the real challenges facing young Africans, and explain complex political topics to millions of followers back home.
“For a long time, young Africans have been left out of the big decisions,” said Israel Laryea, Executive Head of Influencer Africa. “By bringing these 34 talented creators to Kigali, we are making sure our youth are not just listening, but are actively helping to build the Africa we all want to see. They are the true voice of the present.”
The Creatorthon: Preparing for a Mindset Shift
The collaboration began before the main forum, when Influencer Africa hosted a “Creatorthon”: an intimate, highly interactive session that brought the creators face-to-face with ASG leaders and forum speakers.
The Creatorthon was designed as a two-way exchange. It prepared the creators for the policy discussions ahead, but more importantly, it gave the leaders a chance to listen. During the session, the creators shared their own grassroots experiences and outlined the contributions they hoped to make to a broader mindset shift among African youth.
From Just Talking to Taking Action
The forum’s main goal was to change how Africans think: to move away from talking about unity and toward building solutions that work.
For these digital creators, this is already how they live. The internet has no borders, and they know how to work together across countries. While the historic delegation featured creators from 12 countries, their digital reach extended far beyond those borders, spanning the entire continent and reaching deep into the global diaspora.
This curated group ensured representation from every corner of the continent: North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa, bridging Anglophone and Francophone communities. Creators such as Emilien Bejuandem Tengungwoh, Kaligbe Roxane Lidwine, and Frederique Ange Karell Dablé stood shoulder-to-shoulder with policymakers. They were joined by storytellers such as Meryem Belkihel, Kemigisha Fiona, Alum Scova, and Turamuhawe Christine Joy, who brought unique regional perspectives to the table. Also lending their digital reach to these governance discussions were Léna Habib Mbaye, Redemptha W. Nsanzugwanko, Eyoel Abrham Talargie, Theshaya Naidoo, and Aissata Esperanca Sy.
Representing the entrepreneurial drive of the youth were Susan Mwongeli Munguti, Iremide Adeoye, Abdelbasset Manfouchi, Joshua Boye-Doe, and Mahder Pawlos Wako. Alongside them, visionaries such as Banele Rewo, Kennedy Odhiambo, Vanessa Zuba Mutesi, Sara Sitr, and Tito Harerimana translated these high-level discussions into everyday language for their audiences. Rounding out the group were Solange Nishimwe, John Seyiram Kofi Amegatse, Emmanuel Kumah Abronyeh, Ejemeka Obisinachi, Natasha Smith, Funmilayo Safi, and Darina Kayumba, each proving that Africa’s youth are ready to take charge of the continent’s narrative.
A New Era of African Storytelling
Leaders at the forum broadly agreed that Africa cannot change for the better without young people leading the way.
Because of this collaboration between ASG and Influencer Africa, the ideas discussed in Kigali are not staying confined to a meeting room. The 34 creators are already sharing what they learned with their online communities, sparking conversations across the globe.
By bringing new media into the fold, Influencer Africa and ASG are showing the world that Africa’s young storytellers are among its greatest assets. By treating influencers as leaders rather than just brand ambassadors, they are helping write Africa’s next chapter.
Nii Okai Tetteh is a Ghanaian communications practitioner with 15 years of experience in communications and partnerships across Africa. He currently works with EchoHouse Africa, engaging youth cultural communities in multiple African countries.
