SMADE NEXTGEN ACADEMY
Building the Next Generation of Creative Leaders
A development pathway designed to equip emerging creatives, producers, strategists and cultural entrepreneurs with the skills, networks and real-world experience to thrive in global creative industries.
What is the SMADE NextGen Academy?
The SMADE NextGen Academy is a training and talent development initiative shaping the next cohort of African and diaspora creative leaders. Through education, mentorship, and hands-on experience across live events, strategy, brand partnerships, and cultural production, we prepare rising talent for real industry opportunities.
PARTNER WITH NEXTGEN
Shape the Future of Africa’s Creative Talent
The SMADE NextGen Academy collaborates with organisations who believe in unlocking opportunity, investing in youth, and strengthening the African and diaspora creative economy.
Who Should Partner?
- Brands
- Universities & education providers
- Government ministries & agencies
- Cultural institutions
- Record labels, talent agencies & media companies
Why Partner?
Partnership with NextGen builds genuine cultural impact — not just visibility.
You gain access to emerging talent, contribute to ecosystem development, and support pathways that transform passion into long-term careers.
Together, we create infrastructure, opportunity and sustainable creative leadership.
THE FUTURE OF
CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
OUR MISSION
Talent, Access, and Ecosystem Strength
SMADE NextGen Academy exists to turn raw potential into industry-ready leadership. We focus on three core pillars that move talent from passion to profession while strengthening the wider African creative economy.
Skills Training
Industry-relevant learning in event production, creative strategy, digital media, partnerships, and cultural brand building. We teach the practical tools, language and standards required to thrive in global creative industries.
Pathways Into the Industry
Practical placements across SMADE festivals, tours, hospitality experiences, brand partnerships and cultural missions. Talent doesn’t just learn in theory – they step into real teams, real rooms and real opportunities.
Ecosystem Strengthening
Building a pipeline of trained, empowered creatives who uplift the wider African creative economy. Every cohort adds capacity, leadership and long-term infrastructure back into the communities they come from.
WHAT WE OFFER
Academy Streams
Five specialised development tracks designed to prepare emerging creatives for real roles in the entertainment, cultural, media, and creative strategy industries.
Live Events & Festival Production
Training in stage management, tour production, artist liaison, technical operations, audience experience, risk management and logistics — the full engine behind world-class events.
Creative Strategy, Marketing & Brand Partnerships
Training in brand storytelling, cultural strategy, marketing campaigns, sponsorship deck building, PR communications, proposal writing, and negotiation — teaching how to build, pitch and grow brands in today’s cultural economy.
Media, Content & Storytelling
Training in documentary filmmaking, event coverage, social storytelling, editing, creative direction, photography, and digital production workflows for fast-paced content demands.
Cultural Diplomacy & Creative Economy
Training in policy, creative tourism, international partnerships, cultural exchange programmes, youth development, and the economics of the African creative industries.
Leadership & Entrepreneurship
Training in leadership mindset, communication, public speaking, business development, financial literacy, team management, and professional confidence — shaping the next generation of founders and industry leaders.
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
Whether you are an emerging creative or a partner organisation, there is a place for you inside SMADE NextGen Academy.
SMADE NEXT GEN ACADEMY
SMADE NextGen Academy builds structured pipelines, turning passion into professionalism and empowering a new generation of creatives.
IMPACT TO DATE
What We’ve Built So Far
Even at this early stage, the SMADE NextGen Academy is already feeding real talent, capacity and leadership back into the creative ecosystem.
200+
Early-career creatives trained and exposed to SMADE events, learning spaces and behind-the-scenes industry environments.
Hands-On Placements
Practical experience across Afro Nation, cultural missions and UK tours – turning theory into lived, on-ground learning.
Alumni in Industry
Alumni now contributing to brand strategy, content creation, event production and creative leadership roles across the ecosystem.
Ecosystem Partnerships
Collaborations with venues, promoters, artists and cultural organisations that build long-term infrastructure and opportunity.
WHO IS IT FOR?
For Emerging Creatives Ready to Step In
The SMADE NextGen Academy is designed for emerging creatives aged 18–35 who are serious about building a future in culture, entertainment and the creative economy.
- Work in the events or entertainment industry.
- Build a career in cultural strategy, marketing or storytelling.
- Join and shape the African and diaspora creative economy.
- Get hands-on experience at real shows and live projects.
- Learn industry skills and standards missing from universities.
You don’t need a portfolio, a degree or industry contacts to start. You need curiosity, discipline and a genuine passion for culture, music, storytelling or live experiences.
If you’re ready to learn, show up and grow, the Academy is for you.
WHY IT MATTERS
Building Pathways, Not Just Moments
Africa’s cultural wave is global. But without structure, access and training, too many talented people are blocked from turning passion into sustainable careers. SMADE NextGen Academy exists to change that.
A Booming Culture, Limited Pathways
Africa’s cultural economy is booming — festivals, music, digital content and creative platforms are growing faster than ever.
But pathways, training and industry access remain limited. Many emerging creatives don’t know where to start, who to learn from or how to turn their talent into paid, long-term work.
Structured Pipelines for Creative Careers
SMADE NextGen Academy builds clear, structured pipelines into the creative industries — combining learning, mentorship and real placements across festivals, tours, cultural missions, brand work and hospitality experiences.
We turn passion into professionalism, and empower a new generation of creatives who can lead, build and sustain the wider African creative economy.
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP
Led by Practitioners, Not Theory
The SMADE NextGen Academy is led by cultural architects and industry operators who actively shape festivals, tours, media and partnerships across the global African creative economy.
Founder & Cultural Architect
Dr. King SMADE
Founder of SMADE Entertainment and co-founder of Afro Nation, Dr. SMADE has spent over a decade building the global live Afrobeats experience — from stadium shows and touring to cultural diplomacy missions and creative economy advocacy.
At NextGen, he anchors the vision, creative infrastructure and strategic pathways that connect emerging talent to real industry opportunities.
Managing Director & Head of Strategy
Korrine Sky
A cultural brand strategist, creative director and ecosystem builder, Korrine leads SMADE’s strategic direction, partnerships, and narrative-building across festivals, brands and media platforms.
At NextGen, she shapes the curriculum, talent pathways and mentorship frameworks that turn raw potential into credible, industry-ready leadership.
Industry Mentors & Guest Faculty
Alongside the core leadership, the Academy draws on a growing network of producers, tour managers, marketers, brand strategists, content directors and cultural practitioners from across Africa and the diaspora.
These mentors join as guest lecturers, reviewers and on-ground guides — giving NextGen participants direct access to the people who build festivals, campaigns and cultural platforms at scale.
- Live events & tour production specialists
- Brand, partnerships & sponsorship leads
- Media, content & storytelling directors
- Cultural diplomacy & creative economy practitioners
Partner With Us
Work With SMADE NextGen Academy
We partner with universities, brands, creative institutions and ecosystem builders who want to invest in the next generation of African and diaspora creative leaders. Together, we design pathways that turn talent into employability, entrepreneurship and real industry impact.
Why partner with SMADE NextGen
SMADE NextGen Academy sits inside a real working ecosystem of festivals, live events, touring, media and cultural diplomacy. Partnerships are not theoretical. They connect your organisation directly to emerging talent, live projects and global creative networks.
- Access a pipeline of trained, industry ready creative talent and producers.
- Co design programmes that link your strategic goals with real community impact.
- Show measurable investment in youth skills, creative economy growth and diversity.
- Connect your brand or institution to Afrobeats, nightlife and global Black culture with credibility.
Who we partner with
Ways to partner with us
Every partnership is designed to be practical, measurable and culturally relevant. Examples include:
- Cohort sponsorship and scholarships for emerging creatives.
- Live project briefs that plug students into your brand or organisation.
- Guest lectures, masterclasses and campus events led by SMADE and industry leaders.
- Internship and placement routes into your company or institution.
- Research, insight and thought leadership on youth culture and the creative economy.
- Co branded academies or city labs linked to your social impact or CSR strategy.
PARTNERSHIP FORM
FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
A quick guide to how the SMADE NextGen Academy works, who it’s for and what you can expect.
Do I need previous experience?
No. The Academy is designed for emerging creatives at different stages. You don’t need a portfolio, degree or industry background — just genuine passion, commitment and a willingness to learn.
Is the Academy free or paid?
The Academy is free to join. Our goal is to remove as many financial barriers as possible for talented young people entering the creative industries.
How long is each cycle?
Each Academy cycle runs for approximately 12 months, combining learning, mentorship, project work and real industry exposure across SMADE platforms and partner initiatives.
Do I get real placements?
Yes. Participants have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience across festivals, tours, cultural missions, brand activations and hospitality nights — not just classroom-style learning.
Can I join online?
Yes. Some elements of the Academy, including learning sessions and updates, are accessible online. You can register your interest for online access here:
Any additional questions?
Contact Us →