African talent – whether on the pitch, the big screen, the catwalk or the stage - has for a long time shone a bright light on the continent, but largely only through their successes abroad. Despite a large pool of talent and recipients of multiple international awards from the Ballon d’Or to Olympic medals to Oscars, that global success has not translated into booming sports and creative industries in Africa.  According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Africa's share of the global creative economy remains significantly low, accounting for only around 2.9% of global creative goods exports, representing $58.4 billion and less than 1% of the African GDP.  In addition, Africa’s creative industries and sports sectors are faced with challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to funding and markets, intellectual property theft, and an outdated and inconsistent legal and regulatory environment.  This session will highlight the key challenges hindering Africa’s creative and sports industries, as well as opportunities for investment and financing channels that are critical to unlocking and sustaining growth.