Born in Côte d'Ivoire, raised in Morocco and now living in Montreal, Djamilla Toure defines herself as a product of the diaspora. Passionate about women's empowerment and the media, she is a media founder, content creator and social entrepreneur.

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She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations and international law, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sustainable development, where she is exploring solutions to the structural barriers faced by women around the world.

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In 2015, convinced that change begins at her own scale, Djamilla set herself the mission of rethinking the world through concrete action. And so, with four other women, she founded Sayaspora, a media outlet dedicated to young women from the African diaspora. Through this platform, she aims to amplify the voices of these women, highlight their ideas and offer them a space where they can not only express themselves and build their capacities, but also find a community that understands and values them.

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Between leadership, innovation and commitment, Djamilla continues to explore new avenues to strengthen the influence of women in the media, social and economic spheres.

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Afoali Ngwakum Akisa is a Montreal-based creative mind, storyteller, and founder of 9:16 Stories, a video production company specializing in emotionally resonant, goal-driven narratives. Inspired by her father’s love for capturing family memories, Afoali turned her passion for storytelling into a thriving career, helping businesses and creators cut through the digital noise with content that connects and drives results.

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Her work has delivered measurable impact across industries. Afoali’s expertise helped Swab the World raise over $232,000 through social media campaigns, secured $614,000 in funding for Sayaspora’s mission to empower African women, and supported Juno in raising $300,000 to innovate menstrual health solutions. Known for blending creativity and strategy, Afoali ensures that her clients’ stories resonate and inspire action.

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In her workshops, Afoali empowers participants to create engaging content that not only captures attention but delivers real results. By sharing practical techniques, creative insights, and actionable strategies, she equips business owners, marketers, and creators with the tools to stand out in today’s crowded content landscape.

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Boubacar Djiba, is among Africa’s music industry’s prolific change agents with over 15 years’ of experience in the music industry in Senegal. He is an entrepreneur who evolves in the creative industry, technology, and communication sector. He is a consultant, music producer, designer and sound engineer passionate about the change and development of Africa through his youth. Connected in the global creative industry, he discovers and develops talents through his label Vazy Music.

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In Jan 2024, Boubacar launched the first instant AI mastering platform in Africa, Senmixmaster after years of research. Senmixmaster is the first AI technological start-up evolving in cultural and creative industries in Senegal, more precisely in music and audio content. Senmixmaster uses AI and reinforcement learning, its engine works like a real engineer, making original decisions as the mastering progresses by tweaking the music to remove technical errors while applying necessary enhancements or anything preventing a great music listening experience.

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Eager to build a strong creative ecosystem, Boubacar is a sure bet for the development of the creative industries in Africa with the use of technology.

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