2026 International Speaker Series

Africa Rising: Investment, Innovation, and a Continent Redefining its Own Story

Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual

Registration opening soon

About the Event

Africa is the world's youngest continent, over 60% of its population is under 25, and its nations are making increasingly deliberate choices about who they partner with, on what terms, and toward what future. As the United States has pulled back from diplomatic, development, and security commitments across the continent, China has moved aggressively to fill the void through infrastructure investment and political influence.

But the more compelling story may be what African governments, entrepreneurs, and civil society are building independent of either power: regional institutions, technological leapfrogging, and a demand for a seat at the table where their futures are decided. This session examines the U.S.-China competition for influence in Africa, and asks whether that framing itself misses the point.

Speakers

Speakers coming soon.