The Royal African Society

Thank You London 🇬🇧🌍 The Afretrade London Roadshow, in partnership with the Royal African Society, brought together an incredible community of investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, innovators, and diaspora leaders committed to shaping Africa’s economic future. Under the theme: “Building Africa’s Economy – Leveraging the Power of its Global Diaspora,” the evening sparked important conversations around trade, investment, innovation, and long-term collaboration between Africa and its global diaspora. With Africa’s single market through AfCFTA projected to exceed $3 trillion, and the continent set to become home to one of the world’s largest working-age populations, the need for strategic partnerships and diaspora engagement has never been more urgent. Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, connected, and shared in the vision for a stronger, globally connected African economy. This is only the beginning. Next stop: Lagos Nigeria, 17 – 19 June #AfricanEconomicRenaissance #AfricaRising #AfCFTA #AfricanDiaspora #InvestInAfrica #TradeAndInvestment #GlobalAfricans #EconomicDevelopment #Afretrade

HAPPENING TODAY - join us. Later today, leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and members of the African diaspora will come together for an important conversation on the future of Africa’s economy. Did you know that African diaspora remittances are projected to exceed $100 billion, making them one of the continent’s largest sources of external financing? Now imagine the impact if that influence expanded beyond remittances into: - Trade partnerships - Enterprise development - Innovation - Long-term investment across Africa That’s exactly what the Afretrade London Roadshow is about. Under the theme: “Building Africa’s Economy – Leveraging the Power of its Global Diaspora” Join us for an evening of insight, strategic networking, and conversations that could shape Africa’s next economic chapter. Thursday, 14 May 2026 6pm – 8pm (Registration opens at 5:30pm) Brunei Gallery Theatre, SOAS, London Final spaces available — register now via the link in bio. #AfricanEconomicRenaissance #AfricaRising #AfricanDiaspora #InvestInAfrica #TradeAndInvestment #GlobalAfricans #EconomicDevelopment #Afretrade

May is Africa Month and at the Royal African Society, we are excited to celebrate the month in celebration of the continent 🤩 Our first event, we have partnered with AFRETRADE, to the African Economic Renaissance Roadshow, taking place on Thursday 14th May 2026. The theme for the event is “Building Africa’s Economy – Leveraging the Power of its Global Diaspora.” As Africa continues to rise as a global economic force, the role of the diaspora has never been more important. This roadshow creates a platform for meaningful dialogue, strategic connections and actionable insights that will help shape the continents’ economic future. Here’s what to expect: • Insightful panel discussions with industry leaders • Conversations on diaspora investment and trade • High- value networking opportunities • A preview of the upcoming Afretrade Festival Come and join us for this amazing event whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker passionate about Africa’s growth, this is an opportunity to be part of a defining conversation. 14 May 2026 Register via link in bio 6pm – 8pm (registration opens at 5:30pm) Brunei Gallery Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG #afretrade #royalafricansociety #africarising #diasporainvestment #doingbusinessinafrica

Africa’s economic future is evolving rapidly — and the global African diaspora has a critical role to play in shaping it. AFRETRADE is a digital one-stop platform for talent, training and trade, built to bridge continents and unlock global opportunities. If you’ve been thinking about writing, this is your moment to learn from those who have done it. The Afretrade London Roadshow on Thursday 14th May, is a strategic prelude to the Afretrade Entrepreneur Festival in Lagos (June 17-19, 2026). The London edition seeks to mobilize investors, institutions and the African diaspora toward trade-led partnerships with Africa, positioning Lagos and the wider continent as premier destinations for enterprise, innovation and investment. If you are interested in investing in Africa and be a change maker, join us 📅 14 May 2026 🎟️ Register via link in bio ⏰ 6:00pm – 8:00pm (Registration opens at 5:30pm) 📍 Brunei Gallery Theatre School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London #afretrade #royalafricansociety #africarising #diasporainvestment #doingbusinessinafrica

May is Africa Month and at the Royal African Society, we are excited to celebrate the month in celebration of the continent. Our first event, we have partnered with AFRETRADE, to the African Economic Renaissance Roadshow, taking place on Thursday 14th May 2026. The theme for the event is “Building Africa’s Economy – Leveraging the Power of its Global Diaspora.” As Africa continues to rise as a global economic force, the role of the diaspora has never been more important. This roadshow creates a platform for meaningful dialogue, strategic connections and actionable insights that will help shape the continents’ economic future. Here’s what to expect: • Insightful panel discussions with industry leaders • Conversations on diaspora investment and trade • High- value networking opportunities • A preview of the upcoming Afretrade Festival Come and join us for this amazing event whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker passionate about Africa’s growth, this is an opportunity to be part of a defining conversation. 📅 14 May 2026 🎟️ Register here to attend /event/african-economic-renaissance-roadshow/ ⏰6pm – 8pm (registration opens at 5:30pm) 📍Brunei Gallery Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG #afretrade #royalafricansociety #africarising #diasporainvestment #doingbusinessinafrica

What an evening ✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Africa Writes Masterclass on Thursday 30th April. It was a truly inspiring session with Mike Gould and Azieb Pool, who shared honest reflections on their journeys into becoming authors — from developing their voice through their personal stories, to bringing their powerful stories to life. From insightful conversations to meaningful connections, the evening was a reminder of the power of storytelling and community. Our key takeaway at the Royal African Society, was that "stories are made up of people and the events created from life". If you attended, we’d love to hear your biggest takeaway 👇🏾 And if you missed it — stay connected for future Africa Writes events. #AfricaWrites #WritersCommunity #StorytellingMatters #AfricanLiterature #CreativeCommunity #AuthorJourney

1 day to go ! Join us tomorrow for the Africa Writes Masterclass — an evening of insight, storytelling, and real conversations about becoming an author. You’ll hear from two amazing authors; ✨ Mike Gould — entrepreneur, researcher, and author of The Struggle for Modern Nigeria: The Biafra War 1967–1970. With over 30 years leading an NGO supporting rural communities, his work is rooted in lived experience and powerful historical research. Mike brings an impactful perspective to storytelling, grounded in history and experience. ✨ Azieb Pool — a writer, journalist and author of My Father's Daughter and Fashion Cities in Africa, whose work reflects personal storytelling, identity, and lived experience, offering meaningful and relatable perspectives through narrative. Together, they’ll be sharing their journeys into writing — from finding their voice to shaping stories that resonate. If you’ve ever thought about writing your own story, this is your moment. 📅 Thursday 30 April 2026 🕠 18:00 – 20:00 (registration from 17:30) 📍 Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG 🎟️ Last few places available - Register by clicking the link in bio #AfricaWrites #AspiringWriters #AfricanLiterature #Storytelling #WritersCommunity #MeetTheAuthor

We are delighted to welcome four outstanding leaders to the Royal African Society’s Council — bringing global expertise across business, policy, investment and academia. Their appointment strengthens our mission to amplify African voices and foster meaningful connections between Africa and the UK. Join us in celebrating this exciting moment for the Society as we continue to grow, connect and lead. Please read the full press release (link in bio) #RoyalAfricanSociety #RAS125 #AfricanLeadership #GlobalVoices #CouncilLeadership

We are delighted to introduce Mike Gould as a speaker for the Africa Writes Masterclass. Mike Gould is an entrepreneur, author, and researcher with a long-standing commitment to international development and African history. Over the course of his career, he built and led service companies before co-founding a non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting self-sustaining projects in rural communities across the developing world. The organisation ran successfully for over 30 years, earning him recognition from the Igbo people for its impact. Following this, Mike pursued academic research at SOAS, University of London, where he was awarded a PhD for his work on the Biafra War. His research included in-depth interviews with individuals directly involved in the conflict, offering rare and valuable perspectives. His work led to the publication of his book, The Struggle for Modern Nigeria: The Biafra War 1967–1970, which provides a detailed and insightful account of this pivotal moment in history. Mike brings a impactful perspective to storytelling, grounded in history and experience. Thursday 30 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 (registration from 17:30) Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG Register: https://lnkd.in/eNJv26dJ or Link in Bio (Instagram)

We are delighted to introduce Azieb Pool as a Speaker for the Africa Writes Masterclass. Hannah Azieb Pool is a British–Eritrean writer and journalist. She was born near the town of Keren during the war for independence from Ethiopia. She was educated at Liverpool University, where she studied Sociology. She is a former staff writer for The Guardian newspaper and writes for national and international media. She is a patron of the SI Leeds Literary Prize for unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women in the UK. From 2019 to last month, Azieb Pool was Artistic director/CEO at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, North London. At the age of six months, Pool was adopted by a British scholar working in Sudan. At first she was raised in Khartoum and then Norway, before finally settling in Manchester, England. She grew up believing that her genetic parents had died shortly after her birth. At the age of 19 she received a letter telling her that her genetic father and siblings were alive in Eritrea. Her memoir, My Fathers' Daughter: A story of family and belonging, was published in 2005 and is an account of the journey she made back to Eritrea, aged 29, and her encounters with her family Azieb brings a powerful perspective to storytelling, grounded in personal experience and creative expression. She will be sharing her journey into becoming an author, alongside insights into developing voice and crafting impactful narratives. 📅 Thursday 30 April 2026 🕠 18:00 – 20:00 (registration from 17:30) 📍 Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/eNJv26dJ or Link in Bio (Instagram) #AfricaWrites #RoyalAfricanSociety #AziebPool #AfricanLiterature #AspiringWriters

We are delighted to introduce @azieb.pool as a Speaker for the Africa Writes Masterclass. Hannah Azieb Pool is a British–Eritrean writer and journalist. She was born near the town of Keren during the war for independence from Ethiopia. She was educated at Liverpool University, where she studied Sociology. She is a former staff writer for The Guardian newspaper and writes for national and international media. She is a patron of the SI Leeds Literary Prize for unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women in the UK. From 2019 to last month, Azieb Pool was Artistic director/CEO at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, North London. At the age of six months, Pool was adopted by a British scholar working in Sudan. At first she was raised in Khartoum and then Norway, before finally settling in Manchester, England. She grew up believing that her genetic parents had died shortly after her birth. At the age of 19 she received a letter telling her that her genetic father and siblings were alive in Eritrea. Her memoir, My Fathers' Daughter: A story of family and belonging, was published in 2005 and is an account of the journey she made back to Eritrea, aged 29, and her encounters with her family Azieb brings a powerful perspective to storytelling, grounded in personal experience and creative expression. She will be sharing her journey into becoming an author, alongside insights into developing voice and crafting impactful narratives. 📅 Thursday 30 April 2026 🕠 18:00 – 20:00 (registration from 17:30) 📍 Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG Register via Link in bio (instagram) or https://lnkd.in/eNJv26dJ #AfricaWrites #WomenWhoWrite #Storytelling #AfricanVoices #WritersCommunity

Meet our speakers ✨ We’re excited to welcome Azieb Pool and Mike Gould to the Africa Writes Masterclass this 30 April. Two powerful voices, two unique journeys — coming together to share what it really takes to become an author. From finding your voice to navigating the realities of writing and publishing, this is your chance to hear honest insights, practical advice, and stories behind the stories. If you’ve ever thought about writing your own book… this is for you 👀📚 📅 Thursday 30 April 2026 🕠 Registration at 17:30 , Event starts at 18:00- 20:00 📍 Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies, 10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG 🎟️ Book your place via the link in bio #AfricaWrites #WritersCommunity #MeetTheAuthor #AfricanLiterature #Storytelling #AspiringWriters #CreativeJourney