Kenya To Debut In Cannes Young Lions Competition

For the first time in history, Kenya will officially host a local edition of the prestigious Cannes Young Lions competition, giving young creatives a chance to compete globally at the world’s top advertising and creativity festival and awards show; the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France.

This landmark moment will see six of Kenya’s best and brightest young creatives earn the once in a lifetime opportunity to represent the country in the global Young Lions Competition, competing against the world’s top emerging talent. Additionally, one student will attend the Roger Hatchuel Student Academy, ensuring Kenya’s next generation of creative minds is empowered to shape the future of the industry.

As the Title Sponsor, Safaricom is playing a pivotal role in enabling this groundbreaking initiative, reinforcing its dedication to investing in Kenyan talent, digital transformation and the creative economy.

“Creativity and innovation are at the heart of Kenya’s future. Through our partnership with Young Lions Kenya, we are proud to give young creatives the platform to showcase their talent on the world’s biggest stage”, said Dr. Peter Ndegwa(CBS), CEO, Safaricom.

“This initiative aligns with our mission to empower young minds through opportunities that fuel growth and innovation,” added Zizwe Awour, Brand and Marketing Director, Safaricom.

Tusker; Kenya’s most iconic alcoholic beverages brand who have come on board as one of the competitions key partners, continue their rich legacy of championing Kenyan culture, creativity and innovation through their investment in the Young Lions Kenya competition.

“Tusker has always been at the heart of Kenya’s creative and cultural evolution. In line with our brand purpose, we are proud to play a role in empowering young creatives to take their talent to the global stage on which Kenyan creativity deserves to be celebrated ”, said Mark Ocitti, Managing Director, KBL

The launch of Young Lions Kenya signals a new era of opportunity for the country’s young creatives. Kenya’s official representation at Cannes Lions 2025 will not only elevate local talent but also cement Kenya’s place as a powerhouse in the international creative landscape.

For years, Kenyan creativity has been making waves globally, but this is the first time we have an official pipeline to showcase and nurture our best young talent.  This is more than a competition—it’s a launchpad for Kenya’s creative future,” said Alemu Emuron, Chief Creative Officer, The Quollective & Official Festival Representative of Cannes Lions in Kenya.

Young Lions Kenya is a testament to the growing strength of Kenya’s creative economy and the commitment of key industry leaders to nurture young talent, foster innovation and place Kenya firmly on the global creative map.

“Young Lions Kenya represents the kind of bold, future-focused investment that will shape the next generation of creative leaders. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see what our young creatives will achieve” said Serah Katusia, CEO, Belva Digital.

This milestone is just the beginning. Young Lions Kenya is set to become a cornerstone in the development of Kenya’s creative industry, inspiring the next wave of talent to push boundaries, challenge norms and redefine what Kenyan creativity can achieve on the world stage.

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