Ethiopian Creator Feven Birhanu Takes Top Prize at Afreximbank-Backed AI Competition

November 13, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Ethiopian creator Feven Birhanu has won the top prize in the gaming category of an artificial intelligence competition organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Addis Ababa based technology company Gebeya in Lagos.

Birhanu received the category’s top prize of 7,000 US dollars at the competition’s live finale, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts during CANEX WKND 2026.

The competition attracted about 6,000 creators from 43 countries, who submitted 792 games, music tracks and videos developed using Gebeya’s Dala Studio. Nine finalists, three in each category, presented their projects to judges at the live finale.

Micheal Nomyongo and Angulu Paul Otoroza took second and third place in the gaming category. In video, Racheal Ifeoma Ogugua won first place, followed by Hassan Ahmed and Temilorun Okediji. Ndaya Victoria Mulidiki won the music category, with David AMA and Nadia Eman Ibrahim placing second and third.

The competition had a total prize pool of 50,000 US dollars. The award structure provided 7,000 US dollars for first place, 3,500 US dollars for second place and 1,500 US dollars for third place in each category. Additional awards were also available to qualifying creators from the top 20 African countries.

The competition was organised by Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, in partnership with Gebeya and the Afreximbank Innovation Lab. Participants used artificial intelligence tools, computing resources and technical guidance to develop digital games, videos and music.

Temwa Gondwe, Afreximbank’s director of creatives and diaspora, said African creators needed to secure greater ownership of the economic value generated by the continent’s creative industries.

"The question is not whether Africa will participate. The question is how much value Africa will create and own and retain," Gondwe said.

He identified access to affordable computing, creative tools, distribution channels and intellectual property protection as important conditions for the development of the sector.

Amadou Daffe, chief executive and co-founder of Gebeya, urged young Africans to turn experimentation with artificial intelligence into commercially viable products and services.

"Knowledge is in the pocket. The question is, what do you do with it?" Daffe said.

A panel discussion at the event examined questions of ownership and originality, cultural representation, algorithmic bias, storytelling and the cost of accessing digital tools. The session, titled "Claiming Our Stake in the AI Revolution", was moderated by Omolabake Olagunju, programme manager at Co-creation HUB.

The event also marked the launch of the Afreximbank Innovation Lab. Emeka Onyia, the bank’s director of digital business and innovation, said artificial intelligence was reducing some of the equipment and production barriers facing creators, while skills remained essential.

Source: FSX Business News