MMUST is part of the media frontrunners shaping the conversation regarding the sector. This was exhibited during the recently concluded Africa Media Festival 2025, held on 26th and 27th February 2025 at the National Museum- Nairobi. Themed ‘Bridging Gaps, Connecting Media Futures,’ the festival brought together industry players, including the East African Editors Society, Kenya Editors Guild, African Editors Forum, Media Owners Association, and Media Scholars and Journalists from across Africa. The event unpacked presentations and engaging sessions featuring interactive workshops, insightful talks, hands-on demos, masterclasses, and sessions designed to build essential skills, nurture collaborative dialogue, and highlight accurate representation in media. These offered a glimpse into the ideas and innovations shaping the future of media.
Ms. Christine Mungai, Lead Curator at Baraza Media taking the participants through the nationalities represented at the AMF2025.
The two-day event organized by the Baraza Media Lab set the stage for insightful discussions and cutting-edge showcases from media practitioners, creative entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across Africa. MMUST was represented by the Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Dr. Lydia Anyonje, and the Digital Media Strategists, Ms. Linet Owuor and Ms. Caren Nekesa. The event underscored how AI is revolutionizing the industry from journalism and broadcasting to advertising and content creation. With AI technologies at the center of media workflows, including automated content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized news delivery, the festival highlighted the need for African media players to urgently evolve in response to the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence or risk being left behind. The festival also highlighted the significance of collaboration within the continent, urging partnerships between African nations, content creators, tech companies, and international organizations. The event created synergies that can create a unified African media presence on the global stage, ensuring that African stories are told by African voices in an African way.
MMUST team: the Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Dr. Lydia Anyonje, (center) and the Digital Media Strategists, Ms. Linet Owuor and Ms. Caren Nekesa at the AMF2025.
At a time when press freedoms are under attack, the AMF 2025 honored journalists who continue to hold power to account and celebrated those whose careers have shaped African journalism through the Africa Editors Forum Lifetime Service to Journalism Award. The attendees left the event with renewed commitment to the cause of revolutionizing Africa’s media landscape, ensuring that the continent not only keeps up with global trends but also leads in shaping its own media future.
Media personalities; Patrick Gathara, Obi Anyadike, Caroline Kimeu, and Sarah Kimani leads a session on the ethics of Humanitarian Journalism.
According to one of the Ignite Talks titled ‘Who Owns Your News? African Digital Media in the Age of Foreign Influence’ by Mark Kaigwa, as Africa’s media landscape shifts online, digital platforms are redefining who controls access to information. What does this mean for the news we consume, the stories that get told, and the narratives that shape public opinion? This talk revealed that global players are intersecting with local media, posing a threat to African journalism. Such ownership structures influence not just perception but policy, governance, and power.
Mr. Mark Kaigwa gives an Ignite Talk ‘Who Owns Your News? African Digital Media in the Age of Foreign Influence.’
In addition to discussions on policy and technology, the festival showcased cutting-edge media products from emerging African filmmakers, tech entrepreneurs, and digital artists. The aim was to shine a light on the incredible talent that the continent has to offer, as well as to create pathways for international collaboration. The festival also included networking opportunities for upcoming media professionals, offering mentorship programs, pitching sessions for digital startups, and hands-on workshops in emerging fields such as virtual reality, data journalism, and interactive storytelling. The event also marked the launch of the Human Rights Journalism Awards, a collaboration between Baraza Media Lab and Journalists for Human Rights (JHR).
Mr. Benjamin Waithaka from Africa Digital Media Institute making a presentation on AI creative tools.
AMF festival, which has grown to become one of Africa’s premier media events, focused on the challenges and opportunities in the African media landscape. The discussions ranged from the impact of digital transformation and diversity in media representation to fostering greater collaboration across borders. The breakaway sessions focused on tailored topics that addressed ways to improve accessibility, amplify local voices, and tackle the digital divide that still limits many African countries from fully capitalizing on the opportunities of the global media market.
The Africa Media Festival 2025 has set a clear call to action to bridge the gaps that exist within the media industry and to foster a media future that is inclusive, forward-thinking, and globally impactful.
By Linet Owuor
