Africa media looks to Nairobi for future forecast

Written by Oral East Africa

African journalists and media leaders will meet in Nairobi looking to confront the crisis in the industry and find bold solutions for a sustaining the fourth estate.

The Africa Media Festival (AMF), a regional experiment in 2023 that has grown into Africa’s leading gathering for media and creative practitioners will convene media leaders, journalists, creators, policymakers, and innovators on 25–26 February 2026, at this critical moment for media freedom, sustainability, and innovation.

Under the theme Resilient Storytelling: Reimagining Media Freedom, the festival will focus on practical strategies to ensure African media remains independent, resilient, and relevant in a rapidly changing global information ecosystem.

Daniel Kalinaki, General Manager for Editorial at Nation Media Group–Uganda, addresses more than 500 delegates at the 2025 Africa Media Festival in Nairobi. The two-day festival, slated for February 25–26, is expected to host over 300 participants in Nairobi, Kenya

Across the world the media industry is facing financial collapse and political coercion as technology redefines information distribution channels and tough economic times which is turning states authoritarian.

“AMF is not a ceremonial conference. It is a space where Africa’s media leaders come together to confront hard truths, test ideas, and co-create solutions that can sustain journalism and storytelling for the next generation,” said Martie Mtange, Curator Baraza Media Lab.

Organized by Baraza Media Lab, AMF 2026 will be a working, solutions-driven forum, bringing together African and global voices to confront the realities reshaping journalism and storytelling in the continent, ranging from declining revenues and political pressure to artificial intelligence and the rise of the creator economy.

Mark Kaigwa, Founder and CEO of Nendo, addresses the more than 500 attendees at the 2025 Africa Media Festival by Baraza Media Lab.

A central pillar of AMF 2026 is the Africa Media Awards (AMA), an independent, continent-wide recognition of excellence in journalism and creative impact. The 2026 edition introduces the ‘Creator for Good Award’, acknowledging the growing influence of digital creators driving positive social change.

AMA that seeks to honour courageous reporting and dedication to journalism, is a partnership initiative of Baraza Media Lab, The Africa Editors Forum and journalists for Human Rights. It reinforces AMF as Africa’s leading media convention by celebrating journalism that challenges power, defends human rights and reimagines the media’s role in the continent.

Over 20 key speakers are already confirmed for AMF 2026, which will host over 300 participants from across Africa. These include Will Church, Director of Media Freedom at Thomson Reuters (UK); Joy Lusige, Video Journalist and Producer at ZDF German TV (Kenya) and Francesca Ekondaho, Program Coordinator for Outreach in Africa at the Pulitzer Centre (Rwanda).

Renowned Canadian television journalist Lisa LaFlamme speaks during the 2025 Africa Media Festival at the Nairobi National Museum. This year’s event, happening on February 25 and 26 at the same place, will feature curated conversations across media freedom, sustainability, innovation, policy, and the future of creators.

Also leading the curated and diverse conversations across media freedom, sustainability, innovation, policy, as well as the future of creators will be Anita Eboigbe, Chief Operations Officer at Big Cabal Media (Nigeria); and Dr. Zippy Okoth, Chair of Department, Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies at KCA University, and who is also an award-winning film producer and gender consultant.

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