Woodmead workshop puts African creators at the centre of the AI economy
A Woodmead-based workshop is equipping local digital creators with cutting-edge AI and digital twin technology, signalling a shift in how Africa’s creative economy competes on a global stage.
Africa’s creative economy took a decisive step into the future recently with the launch of the continent’s first Digital Twin and AI Creator Enablement Workshop, hosted in Woodmead.
Led by Afru-ikigAI in partnership with Huawei Cloud, the South African Social Media Awards (SASMA) and Celebrity Drive South Africa, the invite-only workshop brought together more than 20 award-winning South African digital creators, collectively reaching an audience of over 15m followers.
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Rather than focusing on theory, the session zeroed in on practical applications of artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and digital twin technology, tools already reshaping global content production.
Creators were introduced to AI-powered digital versions of themselves, designed to help scale content, automate workflows, and unlock new monetisation opportunities without sacrificing authenticity.
At the helm of the initiative was Afru-ikigAI founder and CEO Nondumiso Mhlongo, joined by SASMA sponsorship and acquisitions lead partner Terisa Hsu-Lee.
Celebrity Drive co-founders Wendy Mosetlhi and Sipho “C-ga” Masebe recognised the importance of supporting a platform where creators could engage with the real, practical applications of AI and walk away with tangible skills they can apply immediately.
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Together, they positioned AI not as a threat to creativity but as a sustainability tool for African storytellers navigating an increasingly competitive digital economy.
Huawei Cloud’s leadership team was actively involved, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to Africa’s digital future.
A live demonstration showcased how AI and digital twin technologies are already being deployed at scale in China, offering creators a glimpse into what is possible when infrastructure meets imagination.
The workshop, held shortly after the 2025 SASMA Awards, also featured the official presentation of a SASMA award to radio personality and Real Housewives of Johannesburg cast member Lethabo Lejoy, highlighting the growing overlap between traditional media and digital platforms.
Beyond skills transfer, Afru-ikigAI awarded over R100 000 in prizes and training packages, while announcing plans to roll out similar programmes across South Africa and into other African markets.
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