For decades, Africa’s global narrative has too often been defined externally—reduced to headlines that overlook the continent’s complexity, innovation, and economic transformation. Africa PR Week 2026 — officially the second edition of Africa Global PR Week (AGPRW) — enters this conversation with a different proposition: that Africa’s story should increasingly be shaped by African communicators, institutions, and leaders who understand its realities firsthand.
Scheduled for 26–28 August 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the gathering brings together communication executives, policymakers, investors, academics, journalists, agency leaders, and corporate decision-makers from across the continent and beyond to examine a question with growing strategic importance: How does Africa tell its story on its own terms?
The conference is built around a central proposition: Africa cannot be understood through a single narrative. With 54 sovereign nations, more than one billion people, and thousands of languages and cultures, the continent presents a diverse and evolving communications landscape that demands locally informed storytelling and globally relevant strategic communication. That proposition is captured in this year’s official summit theme, “Redefining Africa: Africa as a Brand,” which is expected to anchor conversations on nation branding, corporate reputation, and authentic storytelling across the three-day program.
Far beyond a traditional industry conference, Africa Global PR Week reflects the evolution of public relations from a function centered on media visibility to one that now sits at the intersection of reputation, governance, investment, public trust, and sustainable development—a strategic discipline capable of influencing policy dialogue and international perception, not merely a corporate communications function.
Communication as a Strategic Business Function
Today’s communication leaders are increasingly expected to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, digital transformation, stakeholder activism, misinformation, and heightened public expectations. Reputation has become an enterprise-wide asset, shaping investor confidence, regulatory relationships, customer loyalty, and talent attraction alike.
Against this backdrop, communication professionals are increasingly recognized as key contributors to Africa’s investment appeal, policy dialogue, and cultural influence—and Africa PR Week positions strategic communication not as a support function but as a leadership discipline essential to organizational resilience and national competitiveness.
The program reflects this shift by bringing together professionals whose work spans corporate affairs, crisis management, public policy, sustainability, integrated marketing, and executive leadership—helping organizations navigate rapidly changing economic environments, technological innovation, regulatory developments, and increasing global attention toward African markets.
Leadership Voices Shaping the Conversation
The 2026 programme draws speakers from both African and international communications leadership, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the profession.
Among this year’s speakers is Bradly Howland, Chief Executive Officer of Alkemi Collective and Immediate Past President of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA). Recognized for advancing professional standards across the continent — including support for the Africa Declaration on the Professionalization of Public Relations and Responsible Communication — Howland has spent more than two decades advising organisations on reputation management, crisis communication, strategic advisory and integrated marketing communications. His contribution is expected to explore agency transformation, leadership excellence and the future direction of the profession.
Joining him is Halim AbouSeif, Strategic Communication Consultant at Rada Public Relations in Egypt. With more than 35 years of experience across public relations, crisis communication, government advisory, events and marketing throughout Egypt and the Middle East, AbouSeif brings a perspective shaped by both industry practice and academic development, having advised government institutions and multinational organisations while contributing to communications education through university teaching. His session is expected to offer insight into crisis leadership, institutional communication and building resilient communication capabilities across emerging markets.
The conference also features Grace Munjuri, a corporate communication practitioner and Team Lead at Brand Magnets Limited. With nearly two decades of experience across stakeholder engagement, sustainability communication, corporate reputation, and governance—alongside her role as Chair of Women in PR Kenya—Munjuri has become an influential advocate for professional development, ethical leadership and greater representation of women within the communications profession. Her participation highlights the growing importance of trust-building, mentorship, and inclusive leadership in shaping the future of African communications.
Adding a global agency perspective is Kirsty Leighton, MBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Milk & Honey PR. Having built an internationally recognized agency with offices across Europe, North America, and Asia, Leighton brings extensive experience in corporate reputation, responsible business practices, and purpose-driven communications. She serves as a Fellow of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), a B Corp. Ambassador, and a Board Advisor to the World Communications Forum Association. Her participation underscores the increasingly global nature of strategic communication—and the opportunity for African practitioners to shape international conversations rather than simply participate in them.
Celebrating Excellence Across Africa
Beyond thought leadership, Africa PR Week also recognizes excellence within the profession. Among its recent highlights is the celebration of Uganda’s Top 10 Women in Public Relations, honoring senior professionals whose leadership continues to shape both organisational reputation and national communication landscapes. The honorees represent sectors including banking, humanitarian services, financial regulation, development finance, corporate affairs, advocacy, and strategic consulting:
- Irene Nakasiita – Director of Communications, Resource Mobilization, and Strategic Partnerships, Uganda Red Cross Society
- Jackie Tahakanizibwa – Head of Corporate and External Affairs, Uganda Baati Ltd.
- Lyn Tukei – Public Relations Communications Manager, Capital Markets Authority Uganda
- Noela Byuma – Head of Marketing and Communication, KCB Bank Uganda
- Connie Nankya – Marketing, Communications and Advocacy Director, World Vision Uganda
- Clare G. Tumwesigye – Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Equity Bank Uganda
- Sumin Namaganda – Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, Uganda Development Bank
- Sarah Kagingo – Founder, Soft Power Communications
- Goretti Masadde – Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services
- Cynthia Mpanga – Corporate Affairs Manager, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda
Their recognition reflects a broader industry trend: women continue to play an increasingly influential role in executive communication, stakeholder engagement, corporate governance and reputation management across the continent — and adds to the growing list of accolades associated with Africa PR Week’s programme of activities.
Redefining Africa’s Global Narrative
The 2026 theme, “Redefining Africa: Africa as a Brand,” speaks to a larger transformation taking place within both the communications profession and the continent itself.
As African economies diversify and innovation ecosystems mature, the ability to communicate complex stories with authenticity has become a competitive advantage. Effective strategic communication now influences investment decisions, diplomatic relationships, policy implementation, crisis resilience, and public trust. In this environment, communicators are no longer simply managing media relations — they are shaping perception, enabling institutional legitimacy, supporting economic development and influencing how Africa is understood on the global stage.
Africa PR Week 2026 therefore represents more than an industry gathering. By bringing together practitioners from across government, corporate, development, academia, and consultancy sectors, it offers a platform for dialogue on the future of leadership, professional standards, ethical communication, and the role of storytelling in advancing Africa’s social and economic aspirations.
As communication continues to evolve into a boardroom priority, the conversations taking place in Nairobi may help define not only the future of public relations in Africa but also how the continent positions itself within an increasingly interconnected global economy.
Africa PR Week 2026 takes place 26–28 August 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences, Nairobi, Kenya. Registration and ticket details are available on the official event website.
