Breakout 1
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Saturday
|
9:00 am
Aldrich 112

Weaving the Future: Creating Africa’s Fashion Blueprint from Within

Despite flashes of global attention, African fashion brands often struggle to achieve lasting prominence. Too often, Africa’s fashion industry is measured against Western frameworks - fashion houses, fashion weeks, and global runways - that fail to align with the continent’s unique resources, market dynamics, and strengths like sustainability and local artisanship. This panel will challenge these conventions, exploring how African brands can forge a resilient and distinctly African fashion ecosystem by harnessing the talent, traditions, and opportunities already present within the continent, to create a model that thrives locally and competes globally.

‍

Weaving the Future: Creating Africa’s Fashion Blueprint from Within

Despite flashes of global attention, African fashion brands often struggle to achieve lasting prominence. Too often, Africa’s fashion industry is measured against Western frameworks - fashion houses, fashion weeks, and global runways - that fail to align with the continent’s unique resources, market dynamics, and strengths like sustainability and local artisanship. This panel will challenge these conventions, exploring how African brands can forge a resilient and distinctly African fashion ecosystem by harnessing the talent, traditions, and opportunities already present within the continent, to create a model that thrives locally and competes globally.

‍

America/New_York
Feb 15, 2025 9:00 AM
Aldrich 112

Other Sessions

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Specials
|
Saturday
|
4:20 pm
Klarman Auditorium
Diverse
Faculty Address: Hakeem Belo-Osagie
A faculty address by Hakeem Belo-Osagie at the 28th Annual Africa Business Conference.
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Faculty Address: Hakeem Belo-Osagie

Join Hakeem Belo-Osagie for a faculty address at the 28th Annual Africa Business Conference at Harvard Business School.

America/New_York
Mar 28, 2026 4:20 PM
Klarman Auditorium
Host
Moderator
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Breakout 2
|
Saturday
|
1:30 pm
Spangler Auditorium
Tech
Owning the AI Transition: Compute, Talent, and Market Formation in Africa
How Africa can lead in AI through compute infrastructure, talent development, and market creation.
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Owning the AI Transition: Compute, Talent, and Market Formation in Africa

As the global AI race intensifies, Africa has a unique opportunity to own its AI transition rather than be a passive recipient of technology built elsewhere. This panel brings together leaders in AI infrastructure, talent development, and market formation to explore how the continent can build the compute capacity, cultivate the technical talent, and create the market conditions needed to compete and lead in the AI era.

America/New_York
Mar 28, 2026 1:30 PM
Spangler Auditorium
More Info
Breakout 1
|
Saturday
|
1:30 pm
Spangler Auditorium
Geopolitics
Speculation, Truth, and State Capacity
Examining how effective governance and institutional strength can accelerate Africa's economic transformation.
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Speculation, Truth, and State Capacity

This panel explores the pivotal role of the public sector in fostering Africa's economic transformation through effective policymaking and institutional innovation. By examining lessons from across the continent, panelists will highlight how strategic governance, sound monetary policy, and strong institutions have laid the groundwork for thriving private sector growth and long-term prosperity.

America/New_York
Mar 28, 2026 1:30 PM
Spangler Auditorium
More Info
Keynotes
|
Saturday
|
11:15 am
Klarman Auditorium
Ecosystem Development
Keynote | Feeding a Billion: The Business of Africa's Agrifood Sector
Join Hajar Alafifi and Olasunkanmi Owoyemi for a keynote on the business of Africa's agrifood sector.
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Keynote | Feeding a Billion: The Business of Africa's Agrifood Sector

Join Hajar Alafifi, CEO of OCP Africa, and Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, Managing Director of Sunbeth Global Concepts, for a keynote on the opportunities and challenges of building Africa's agrifood sector to feed a billion people.

America/New_York
Mar 28, 2026 11:15 AM
Klarman Auditorium
Strong bonds

Africa Focused,


Globally connected

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