Dar braces for Film Expo, a three-day gala that glorifies EAC creativity

DAR ES SALAAM: CULTURE  and Development East Africa (CDEA), together with the Festival, Film Awards, and the Tanzanian government, have jointly organized the inaugural Mashariki Creative Economy Expo 2025, which will bring together creative entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and stakeholders from East Africa and beyond.

The Expo will take place from August 14 to 16, 2025, at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam.

From the dates mentioned, the expo will complement various activities, including showcasing film, fashion, crafts, publishing, interior, and exterior design. Attendees will explore exhibition stands, network with visitors and exhibitors, and explore partnerships and investment opportunities.

The event will also focus on Panel discussions on the economics of music, creative learning sessions covering music, film, writing, and fashion, the launch of the UNESCO Africa Book Industry Report, and an awareness session by the Copyright Society of Tanzania ( COSOTA).

Other activities involved are a showcase event: “Night of shooting”at Nafasi Art Space,  Discussions on film policies, and addressing the lack of an East African policy framework. Continuation of creative skills training, a fashion fashion, decicated networking rooms, where film industry professionals can exchange experiences and deepen their creative knowledge.

Ayeta Anne Wangusa, Executive Director of CDEA, highlighted that the three-day Open House event runs daily from 9:00 am to 6:00pm , 9:00 combining a marketplace, conversations, training, and live entertainment all aimed at fostering an inclusive and sustainable creative economy in East Africa.

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Bona Masenge,Acting Assistant Director of Arts and  Crafts at National Arts Council (BASATA)  expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, noting it offers designers from Tanzania and the region a valuable platform to showcase and promote their work. A multi-stakeholder national committee has begun planning, and stakeholders and artists are invited to register so as to participate.

Emmanuel Ndumukwa, Director of the Film Board’s Development Department, described the Expo as a prime opportunity for artists to share ideas, learn from peers, and harness training to effectively leverage social media for income generation.

Culture and Development East Africa is a Dar es Salaam–based creative think tank and knowledge hub, dedicated to advancing the creative sector through research, innovation, and empowerment platforms for artists and creative entrepreneurs across East Africa.

This three-day Expo aims to unify East African creative visionaries, spark sustainable opportunities across industries, and strengthen the cultural and economic fabric of the region.