Creatives eye opportunities at Echoes of Renaissance summit in Ghana

Jamaican creatives, filmmakers, musicians and music industry professionals are eyeing an upcoming event, the Echoes of the Renaissance Summit and One Love Xperience, which will convene in Accra, Ghana, February 19 to 21, 2026.

The event will provide a key opportunity for them to connect with investors and venture capitalists interested in Africa-Caribbean trade and entertainment opportunities. A core pillar of the Echoes of the Renaissance Summit is fostering strategic partnerships between creatives and investors, bridging the gap between artistic vision and financial backing.

“By bringing together portfolio managers, investment analysts, impact investors, and cultural entrepreneurs, the summit creates a dynamic ecosystem where innovative projects in culture, tourism, and creative commerce can secure the funding and support necessary to scale and thrive,” diaspora affairs consultant Donnaray Roc, lead strategist, and executive producer of the event, said.

“We do business match-making before the event, we consult with those interested so when they do come into Ghana, stuff is already set up on the ground to integrate in the space, that is anything in the creative industry, collaboration, music distribution. So individuals who want to expand and have opportunities in Africa, this is an event for them.”

Roc, who is the head of the Grassroots Renaissance Redefining Hub, has been leading initiatives for Brand Jamaica and Brand Ghana, forging a partnership between the Office of the President, Jubilee House, Republic of Ghana and the Ministries of Tourism, Arts and Culture in both countries.

“It’s all about bringing together policy, business, culture and community,” she said. “Jamaica is recognised globally for its vibrant culture and creative industries, that’s why the island’s best talent is being invited to take a leading role in this historic gathering, presenting unique opportunities for Jamaican businesses, creatives, and policymakers to expand their reach across West Africa and the wider diaspora.”

Ghana’s rapidly expanding entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar sector, encompassing music, film, visual arts, theatre, and digital content creation, leveraging social media and streaming platforms to reach global audiences.

“There are unique opportunities for Jamaican entertainment personnel and creatives to tap into major funding opportunities worth millions of US dollars,” she said. “Jamaican stakeholders and diaspora members are encouraged to register and participate actively, seizing this unprecedented opportunity to expand their businesses, creative projects, and cultural influence within West Africa and beyond.”

Roc also suggested that the timing of the summit and experience during Black History Month and Reggae Month amplifies its significance.

“This historic gathering provides an unparalleled platform for Jamaican businesses, creatives, and policymakers to engage directly with their counterparts from 14 African nations, fostering collaboration across tourism, trade, innovation, and the creative economy,” Roc said.

Ghana is looking forward to welcoming leaders, delegates, entrepreneurs, creatives, and policymakers from 14 African diaspora nations, the Caribbean, and beyond. The summit will have an important financial component as its conveners recognise the critical role of financial institutions and payment system innovators in enabling seamless cross-border economic activity.

The event will mirror the object of other initiatives by Ghana, which is already known for events such as the Year of Return and the Decade of African Renaissance (2020-2030), which have strategically branded Ghana as the “gateway to Africa”. These events are geared towards bringing the African diaspora back to Ghana, fostering a deeper connection to the continent’s heritage, impacting tourism, and facilitating repatriation and investment.