Africa Launches Festival to Build Better Cities by 2050

Africa is building cities faster than anywhere else on Earth, and leaders just launched a groundbreaking festival to make sure they're building them right.

The Africa Real Estate Festival kicked off in Accra, Ghana, bringing together government officials, investors, and developers united by one mission: shift the conversation from building prices to building better lives. By 2050, more than 1.4 billion Africans will call cities home, yet most planning still focuses on transactions instead of people.

Festival founder Desmond Oteng calls it a movement, not just an event. "Africa does not need more unplanned cities or gated silos," he told attendees at the January launch. "We need connected communities and functional urban ecosystems that work for people."

The festival's first gathering happens April 18-19, 2026, in Accra, bringing together policymakers, architects, and investors from across Africa and its global diaspora. Although Ghana hosts the inaugural event, organizers plan to expand across the continent.

International interest is already strong. Barbados High Commissioner Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland announced her country's participation, sharing how real estate contributes 18 percent of Barbados' GDP through smart policies around tourism, coastal conservation, and sustainable planning. She's seeing growing interest from Caribbean investors in Ghana, with inquiries about property ownership surging after visits.

Ghana's government is backing the initiative with concrete plans. The Diaspora Affairs Office outlined strategies to help Africans living abroad invest in real estate back home, moving beyond sending money for bills toward building lasting assets. Plans include real estate investment trusts, digital land governance for transparency, and commercial developments that support trade across African nations.

The Ripple Effect

This festival could reshape how an entire continent grows. Instead of copying the unplanned sprawl that plagues many global cities, Africa has a chance to build urban spaces that preserve cultural identity, protect the environment, and create real opportunity from the ground up.

The initiative targets youth empowerment, climate responsibility, and inclusive growth as foundations for development. Organizers want to attract serious global investment while ensuring African design excellence leads the way.

Ghana's government praised how quickly organizers moved from idea to action, signaling strong official support for partnerships that strengthen the real estate ecosystem. The focus on sustainability aligns with broader African Continental Free Trade Area goals.

African cities built today will shape life for generations, and this festival aims to ensure those cities create dignity and shared prosperity for everyone who calls them home.