30 April 2026
Across Africa, markets are growing fast—but attention is not. Whether you are in Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, or Johannesburg, the reality is the same: customers have more choice than ever before, but less patience for brands that don’t feel relevant. Two businesses can offer the same product, at the same price, with similar distribution. Yet one scales. The other struggles. The difference is not visibility. It has meaning. Because in today’s African market, brands don’t win because they are present. They win because they are understood—and trusted.
When we opened applications for the 2026 Women in Marketing (WiM) Africa Cannes Lions ERA Pass, we knew the bar would be high — but even we were taken aback by the response. We received over five times the number of entries compared to last year, with submissions coming in from across the continent. The quality, thoughtfulness and ambition in each video was genuinely inspiring. It was a powerful reminder of just how much talent exists across Africa — and how important it is that more of it is seen on global stages like Cannes Lions.
Women in Marketing Africa is pleased to confirm its participation in the Cannes Lions ERA Programme 2026, continuing its commitment to increasing access, visibility, and representation for women across the African marketing and creative industries.
01 April 2026
By Andrea Djan-Krofa, CEO - Women in Marketing Africa; Director - Women in Marketing Global. I want to start by giving credit where it’s due. Kudos to Brand Africa and its partners for curating and launching the inaugural ACMO 100. I think it’s a strong and timely initiative, and an important way of recognising the marketing leaders helping to shape some of Africa’s most influential brands.