More than 200 delegates have converged in Mombasa for the third edition of Afrotellers, with African storytellers, creatives and cultural advocates calling for greater ownership of the continent’s narratives and the use of storytelling to influence social change.

The event, which opened in Mombasa, seeks to create a platform for African creatives to exchange ideas, strengthen collaboration and explore new ways of telling the continent’s stories while preserving its cultural identity and heritage.

Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Sports and Gender Jonathan Wepukhulu said hosting the event was a significant milestone for both the county and the country, offering opportunities to nurture talent, expand tourism and open up Mombasa to new possibilities.

“This means a lot for Mombasa. It is about growing talent and creating space for our people, while expanding tourism and opening up the county,” Wepukhulu said.

He noted that the gathering would help position Mombasa as a destination for cultural exchange and creative development, while providing local talent with opportunities to connect with creatives from across Africa.

Afrotellers Executive Director Willson Chivhanga said the event had attracted more than 200 delegates, creating an opportunity for African storytellers to share ideas and develop new approaches to storytelling.

“We have over 200 delegates, and it is a great opportunity to create a platform for storytellers and creatives from Africa to share ideas,” Chivhanga said.

He said Afrotellers was focused on charting new pathways for African storytelling and strengthening unity across national borders.

“Our agenda is to create a platform to chart new pathways as African storytellers and to show that we are united despite our borders,” he said.

Chivhanga added that Mombasa’s rich history reinforced the importance of African narrative sovereignty, urging creatives to take charge of telling their stories through platforms they own and control.

“Mombasa has a rich history. It shows that African narrative sovereignty exists. The time to tell our stories in our own way and through our own platforms is now,” he said.

Afrotellers Board Chairman Dr Munyaradzi Chatikobo challenged African creatives to move beyond merely narrating stories and ensure their work translates into tangible change in society.

“Apart from just telling stories, we want to see the continent embodying the stories that the world can see. The embodiment should also start to influence the lives of Africans,” Chatikobo said.

His remarks highlighted the need for storytelling to go beyond entertainment and representation, becoming a tool for shaping attitudes, inspiring action and influencing the everyday experiences of African communities.

Rights activist Rachael Mwikali said Mombasa and the wider Coast region has a wealth of historical and cultural experiences that deserved greater recognition through African-led storytelling.

“Mombasa and the Coast region have a lot of rich history that needs to be told. We have people like Mekatilili wa Menza, who helped shape our society, and that is why this event is important,” Mwikali said.

She noted that Mombasa’s growing activity in the creative sector reflected its position as a meeting point for artists and creatives from across the region.

“Mombasa has also been hosting a lot of artists and creatives from the region, and that is why it has been busy,” she said.

Mwikali argued that the continent’s image had often been shaped by narratives told by others, making it necessary for Africans to reclaim the power to document and communicate their own experiences.

“The narrative about Africa has been wrongly told out there. That is why we need to own and tell our own stories,” she said.

She called on African storytellers and creatives to work together, embrace technology responsibly and engage policymakers to create an enabling environment for the creative sector.

“We must unite as African storytellers and creatives. Let us also use technology positively in telling our stories. There is a need to work closely with policymakers,” Mwikali said.

The discussions at the third edition of Afrotellers underscore the growing importance of African-owned storytelling platforms in preserving cultural heritage, challenging stereotypes and presenting the continent’s experiences from its own perspective.

The call for collaboration, responsible use of technology and engagement with policymakers also points to the need for stronger structures to support storytellers and creatives.

For Mombasa, hosting the gathering offers an opportunity to showcase its historical heritage, attract creative talent and strengthen its profile as a destination for cultural exchange and tourism.

The event brings together voices from across the continent around a common goal: ensuring African stories are not only told by Africans, but also reflect their realities, shape public understanding and contribute to the continent’s development.