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People & Voices · ALEC 2026
The Minds Behind the Movement
ALEC was never going to be built alone. From the very beginning, founder and convener Anthonia "Sasha P" Alabi understood that to create something truly pan-African — something that could shift the trajectory of the continent's live entertainment industry — you need to surround yourself with people who have already moved mountains. That's exactly what the ALEC Advisory Board is: a carefully assembled group of industry titans, strategic thinkers, and cultural architects who are deeply invested in Africa's creative future.
Today, we're proud to introduce the five extraordinary leaders who have joined the ALEC Advisory Board ahead of our inaugural conference in Johannesburg, April 23–25, 2026.
Bolanle Austen-Peters
Filmmaker · Cultural Entrepreneur · Nigeria
Founder of BAP Productions and Terra Kulture, CNN has called her "the woman pioneering theatre in Nigeria." Forbes Afrique has named her one of the most influential women in Africa. Her productions have played London's West End, Cairo, Pretoria, and on Netflix worldwide. She is the definitive proof that African storytelling belongs everywhere.
Akintunde Marinho
Media Strategist · Producer · Nigeria
Founder and CEO of Utopia Media Group, Akintunde brings over a decade of integrated marketing, digital strategy, and business development spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Co-producer of the acclaimed Smart Money Woman series, his fingerprints are on some of the most commercially sharp creative projects in Nollywood and beyond.
Leslie "Lee" Kasumba
Media Personality · Creative Strategist · Uganda / South Africa
The "First Lady of Hip Hop" in South Africa and former Head of Channel O Africa, Lee Kasumba is one of the continent's most influential voices in music, media, and popular culture. Founder of She Speaks Africa and host of the Africa Whisperer podcast, she has collaborated with BBC, UN Women, UNESCO, Canal+, and Apple Music subsidiary Platoon.
Chim Chalemera
Entertainment Executive · Malawi
A pioneering force representing the creative industries of Southern and East Africa, Chim Chalemera brings a vital perspective on what it means to build an entertainment ecosystem from the ground up — and why pan-African infrastructure must include every corner of the continent, not just its largest markets.
Solape Hammond
Entrepreneur · Policy Leader · Nigeria
Co-founder of Impact Hub Lagos and former Special Adviser on SDGs and Investments to the Lagos State Governor, Solape brings two decades of experience in management consulting, financial advisory, and entrepreneurship. Her unique ability to connect the worlds of policy, investment, and creative enterprise makes her the bridge ALEC needs between industry and opportunity.
"Live entertainment shapes how people experience African cities and cultures. With this board, we now have the architecture to make that experience world-class." — Sasha P, Founder, ALEC
Why This Board Matters
This isn't a ceremonial board. Each of these five leaders brings active, operational expertise in the sectors ALEC exists to serve — production, media, touring infrastructure, policy, and entrepreneurship. Together, they represent Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, and the African diaspora: a true cross-section of the continent's creative landscape.
Their collective role is to help ALEC become more than a conference. They will guide programming strategy, open doors to key stakeholders, and ensure that the conversations happening inside ALEC's sessions are the ones the industry actually needs to have.
Final Thought
Africa's live entertainment industry is at an inflection point. It has the talent, the audience, and now — with ALEC — the dedicated platform. Follow each of our board members on Instagram via @alecafrica and join us in Johannesburg, April 23–25, 2026 to be part of what they're helping to build.
