Pan-African creative entrepreneur Julius Kyazze has urged stakeholders to invest more in the systems that support Africa’s creative industry, saying the continent’s real opportunity lies in building strong, sustainable creative businesses—not just producing talent.
Speaking in a reflective interview about his entrepreneurial journey, Kyazze noted that while Africa is rich in creative talent, it still lacks enough structured businesses to nurture, manage, and scale that talent across borders.
Kyazze, the founder and CEO of Live54+ and co-founder of Swangz Avenue, emphasised the need to strengthen key areas such as infrastructure, professional management, skills development, and regional collaboration. He said these are critical if Africa’s creative economy is to reach its full potential.
“We don’t have a talent problem. The gap is in the businesses and structures that support that talent,” he explained.
He revealed that Live54+ was created to bridge this gap by bringing together different creative services—including media, live events, talent management, content production, and marketing—into one integrated platform. The goal, he said, is to better serve creators, brands, and audiences across Africa.
Kyazze added that his long-term vision is to help build an environment where African creatives can succeed on the continent without depending on international validation.
“We want to see creatives tour, collaborate, and grow within Africa, supported by strong local institutions and partnerships,” he said.
Looking back, Kyazze credited his early background in dance for shaping his discipline, teamwork, and understanding of branding and the business side of creativity. He also pointed to his time in Kenya as a turning point, where exposure to more structured entertainment businesses helped expand his perspective on building sustainable creative enterprises.
Beyond growing his own ventures, Kyazze said he is driven by a broader vision—to contribute to a thriving African creative economy that creates jobs at scale while promoting authentic African stories to the world.
About Julius Kyazze
Julius Kyazze is a Ugandan entrepreneur and business leader. He is the founder and CEO of Live54+ and co-founder of Swangz Avenue. Over nearly two decades, he has built a portfolio of businesses across music, media, events, talent development, and marketing, all aimed at strengthening Africa’s creative industry.
