From Visibility to Value: Lessons for African Creators on IP Ownership

At the Africa Soft Power Summit in Nairobi, industry leaders pressed a simple but critical question: after visibility, who owns the value? Bolanle Austen-Peters, Rita Dominic and D’banj shared how they turned creative talent into sustainable businesses. Bolanle showed how Terra Kulture’s productions and training form a full creative value chain. Rita explained that global streaming grants fame, but only ownership of IP and data secures lasting income. D’banj highlighted how a creator’s catalogue, character and format become collateral for investment. They also warned that AI tools will further shift power. If your voice, image or style becomes data, you need the rights and structure to control it. For African actors, musicians, designers and storytellers, the next era demands more than likes and views. It demands clear business models, protected IP and platforms that keep value in creator hands.

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