Experience Africa

What Experience Africa does

Experience Africa operates an annual Pan-African conference and a portfolio of complementary media products targeting the African and Caribbean diaspora in the United States, with primary concentration in the Washington DC metropolitan (DMV) area. Founded in 2022 as the flagship event initiative of The Voice of Africa (TVOA) media platform (established 2016), the organization hosted its inaugural conference at American University Washington College of Law on July 22, 2023, drawing 500+ attendees and participation from 9+ African and Caribbean embassies. The second annual conference moved to Georgetown University on October 5, 2024, with a 2025 edition announced. The event combines cultural performances, an embassy and vendor marketplace (Global Marketplace), fashion shows (including a runway casting call), a food festival, comedy, and four thematic panel discussions covering diaspora engagement, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa's digital revolution and cyber diplomacy, and tourism as an economic growth lever, plus an Ambassador of Africa Awards Gala. The organization self-positions as the largest Pan-African event in the DMV area.

The organization operates no proprietary technology platform: ticket distribution runs through external services (Eventbrite, cglink) and merchandise sales are powered by WooCommerce on the company's website. Revenue is generated across six streams: ticket sales, vendor booth fees (merchandise, food, informational, cultural performer, non-profit), multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze plus Titanium, Diamond, Event Sponsor, Student Scholarship Sponsor, Youth Ticket Sponsor categories), embassy participation fees (with optional add-ons for electrical access, speaking roles, cultural performances, vendor tables), merchandise and book sales through the online Shop, and food-vendor culinary participation. The Ambassador Program — a formal program with USA and Africa tracks and 100+ participants — functions as a structured referral and grassroots-marketing network incentivized with tiered rewards including free tickets, merchandise, backstage access, and for the top Africa ambassador, a flight to the next edition. Adjacent sub-brands extend the platform year-round: Experience Africa Tours (continental travel), the TVOA Trade and Investment Forum (business-investor matchmaking), and an active TVOA media footprint (newspaper distributed in DMV and Ghana, website, podcast, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok).

Experience Africa serves four core customer segments: the African and Caribbean diaspora (primary consumer attendee base), African and Caribbean embassies in Washington DC (diplomatic and tourism-promotion partners), African/Caribbean-owned businesses and vendors (B2C sellers at the marketplace), and corporate sponsors seeking diaspora audience reach (B2B revenue anchor), with a secondary focus on students via scholarship programs. The company runs with a lean team of approximately 5 employees, is privately held with no disclosed external funding, and operates as a brand and event initiative under parent media company The Voice of Africa (TVOA).

Name

Experience Africa

Legal name

Experience Africa

Website

https://experienceafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Experience Africa operates an annual Pan-African conference in Washington, DC that convenes African and Caribbean diaspora communities, embassies, vendors, and corporate sponsors for cultural exchange, business networking, trade and tourism dialogue, backed by parent media platform The Voice of Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pan-African Cultural Conference Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer & Public Shows (B2C) Organizers (THAHABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Strategy & Experience Design (BPAFAGAA), Festival & Live Entertainment Brand Partnerships (MPAAAGAF), Tours, Activities & Experiences Booking Marketplaces (THALAFAF)

Keywords

• Pan-African conference
• Diaspora cultural events
• African embassy expo
• Trade investment forum
• African fashion showcase

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Attendees purchase tickets to the annual conference via Eventbrite and cglink registration links. The 2023 event was hosted at American University Washington College of Law, Washington DC.
2. Vendor Booth Fees: Merchandise vendors, food vendors, informational vendors, cultural performers, and non-profit vendors pay fees to participate and showcase at the event. Insurance requirements ($2,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate) apply for vendors selling items.
3. Sponsorship Packages: Corporate sponsors (Titanium, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers) sponsor the event in exchange for brand visibility, logo placement on website and materials, and event-day exposure. Sponsorship types include Event Sponsor, Student Scholarship Sponsor, Youth Ticket Sponsor.
4. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates a Shop section on its website selling books, event merchandise, and inspirational products through WooCommerce.
5. Food Vendor Participation: Food vendors (e.g., Chef Ana Catering at the Mozambique booth) pay to operate food tents at the event, offering African cuisine to attendees for a fee.
6. Embassy Participation Fees: African embassies pay to register and participate as delegations, with options for electrical access, speaking roles on tourism panels, cultural performances, raffle prize contributions, and vendor tables.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Experience Africa is an annual Pan-African conference held in the Washington DC area that brings together the African and Caribbean diaspora, African embassies, vendors, and cultural performers for a multi-day event featuring panel discussions, a Global Marketplace expo, food festival, fashion show, comedy show, and cultural performances. The event is the flagship initiative of The Voice of Africa (TVOA) media platform and combines cultural exchange with trade and investment promotion. Tickets are sold to individual attendees, while sponsorship packages, vendor booth fees, and embassy participation fees comprise the B2B revenue.

Product overview

Experience Africa is a suite of event and media products organized by The Voice of Africa (TVOA) Media platform. The core product is the annual Experience Africa Conference—a premier Pan-African gathering that has run since 2023, held at venues including American University Washington College of Law (2023) and Georgetown University (2024). The conference features multiple integrated components including the Global Marketplace (vendor/embassy expo), Food Festival, Fashion Show, Cultural Performances, Comedy Show, and four thematic panel discussions (Diaspora Engagement, African Continental Free Trade Area, African Digital Revolution & Cyber Diplomacy, Tourism). Supporting products include the Ambassador of Africa Program (youth empowerment initiative), TVOA Trade and Investment Forum (business matching), Experience Africa Tours (travel experiences), and an e-commerce shop selling merchandise and event packages. The 2025 event is announced with the same multi-component format. The portfolio operates as a unified platform connecting African diaspora communities with continental opportunities through cultural exchange, trade, and networking events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Experience Africa Conference Annual premier Pan-African conference bringing together African diaspora and Caribbean communities for cultural exchange, business networking, panel discussions, food festivals, and fashion shows. The flagship event of The Voice of Africa media platform.
• Experience Africa Tours Immersive travel experiences offering trips to the African continent, part of the broader TVOA initiative connecting diaspora members with the continent.
• TVOA Trade and Investment Forum Forum connecting African businesses with global investors, fostering trade partnerships and investment opportunities across the continent.
• Ambassador of Africa Program Formal youth empowerment program engaging ambassadors across USA and Africa tracks who promote the event, recruit attendees, and build community. Ambassadors receive promo codes, merchandise, backstage access, free tickets, and recognition; top Africa ambassador wins a flight to the next year's conference.
• Vendor Program Program allowing merchandise vendors, food vendors, informational vendors, cultural performers, and non-profit vendors to participate in the Global Marketplace expo with promotional benefits including media coverage, TVOA newspaper inclusion, and custom promotional videos.
• Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship opportunities at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Titanium, and Diamond tiers, including Event Sponsor, Student Scholarship Sponsor, and Youth Ticket Sponsor categories, providing brand visibility, logo placement, and event-day exposure.
• Experience Africa Shop Online store selling books, merchandise, inspirational items, and event packages via WooCommerce.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ attendees at inaugural 2023 event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Voice of Africa (TVOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Voice of Africa (TVOA) is the parent organization and founding force behind Experience Africa. TVOA established Experience Africa as its flagship diaspora event initiative, providing the media ecosystem (newspaper, website, podcast, YouTube) and organizational backbone for the conference.
• TVOA Trade and Investment ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of of the TVOA ecosystem, connecting African businesses with global investors alongside the Experience Africa event.
• Experience Africa TourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperience Africa Tours offers immersive trips to Africa as part of the TVOA ecosystem, creating a travel component for diaspora members engaged through the conference.
• The Ambassador of Africa ProgramcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmpowering youth to lead Africa's future. The Ambassador Program serves as a grassroots marketing and community-building arm of the Experience Africa event.
• Berik MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a Titanium sponsor. Provides custom promotional videos for vendors as part of their sponsorship package.
• Amy Butler FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a Titanium sponsor on the sponsors page, supporting the Experience Africa event.
• Naber PublicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a Titanium sponsor on the sponsors page.
• The Line Hotel DCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hotel partner recommended for attendees at $329/night with promo code EXPAFRICA23. Located 2.58 miles from American University.
• American University Washington College of LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the inaugural 2023 Experience Africa conference, providing the event space at 4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20016.
• Georgetown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the 2024 Experience Africa conference (Second Annual, held October 5th), indicating an upgrade from the 2023 venue.
• Chef Ana CateringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOperated a Mozambican food tent at Experience Africa 2023, showcasing authentic cuisine and providing a culinary experience for attendees. Listed on the vendors page.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Africa Center: A New York-based institution running cultural programming, panel discussions, and convenings around African and diaspora affairs. Comparable as a diaspora-focused event organizer with cultural and intellectual programming.
• Afro Nation: Global African and Caribbean music festival brand operating in multiple countries. Comparable as a high-profile diaspora cultural event with sponsorship tiers, ticketing, and tourism-linked positioning.
• AfroTech (Blavity): Organizes the annual AfroTech conference convening Black and African diaspora professionals in tech and business. Directly comparable as a large-scale annual diaspora event with sponsorship tiers, vendor marketplace, and cultural/community programming.
• African Diaspora Network: Non-profit convening African diaspora investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers via annual summits and regional events. Directly comparable as a diaspora engagement event organization positioned around trade and investment.
• Concordia: Hosts an annual nonpartisan summit convening public, private, and nonprofit leaders around social impact. Comparable in format to Experience Africa's high-level panel discussions and inclusive stakeholder model.

Broad incumbents

• ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The largest African American cultural festival in the US, featuring music, fashion, food, and empowerment panels. Broader in scope and audience but operates on the same B2C cultural-event model with ticketing, sponsorships, and vendor participation.
• Black Enterprise: Long-running media platform for Black business and entrepreneurship that hosts events and conferences. Broader in scope but overlaps with Experience Africa's diaspora business networking and trade focus.

Regional players

• Africa Travel Association: Promotes travel and tourism to Africa via events, conferences, and trade shows. Comparable in tourism-focused event programming to Experience Africa's 'Tourism as a Tool for Economic Growth' panel theme.
• ONE Campaign: Global advocacy organization running Africa-focused campaigns and convenings. Adjacent peer via diaspora education and engagement events, though primarily an advocacy rather than event organization.

Others

• Brookings Africa Growth Initiative: Think-tank forum hosting high-level discussions on African economic development and diaspora investment. Comparable in policy/diplomatic subject matter but otherwise operates as a research institution convening events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv49Gnrhqc5TpqbDUkbn5GQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/experienceafrica-tvoa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Experience Africa