Noko Mashilo
South African digital marketing pioneer Christopher Moumakwe has been recognised on the global stage after being named a recipient of the Clevenard Global Awards 2026 Honorary Award.
The award, which will be presented in Spain from 27 to 30 August, recognises his contribution to digital marketing, entrepreneurship, education and youth empowerment.
Moumakwe said the honour was not a personal milestone alone. He believes it reflects Africa’s growing influence in innovation and technology.
“Spain is just the stage; Africa is still the mission. I don’t see this award as a finish line; I see it as fuel. It tells me that building platforms like Afro Connect, mentoring young media professionals and creating the STEAM Festival are contributing to a much bigger global conversation about what African innovation looks like,” Moumakwe said.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s digital marketing pioneers, Moumakwe said he recognised the potential of the internet long before digital transformation became mainstream on the continent.
“I could see early on that the internet wasn’t a passing trend. If we waited for digital marketing to become mainstream, we’d always be reacting instead of leading. I wanted to build digital solutions for Africa, by Africa, because strategies imported from elsewhere don’t always reflect our realities,” he said.
His work now extends beyond digital marketing. Moumakwe is also expected to deliver a keynote address at the Global Economy, Trade, Solid Minerals, Agriculture and Investment Summit. He plans to encourage African leaders to embrace digital innovation as a driver of economic growth.
“Africa doesn’t need to wait for permission to lead in the digital and innovation economy. Resource wealth becomes exponentially more powerful when combined with digital intelligence, strategic marketing and a generation equipped through education,” he said.
One of his flagship projects is the STEAM Festival, which combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics to inspire young people. The initiative includes the STEAM Festival Revision Game Show and STEM into the Theatre, presented in partnership with the South African State Theatre.
“I kept asking myself, what if we didn’t force children to choose between creativity and academic excellence? What if the arts became the bridge? Today, what started as an idea has grown into a movement, helping learners discover confidence in subjects they once feared,” Moumakwe said.
He believes artificial intelligence also offers significant opportunities for Africa, provided it is used responsibly.
“AI should support learning, not replace genuine understanding. Used ethically, it can help entrepreneurs compete globally, improve education and strengthen economic growth, but it must always be paired with digital literacy and human-centred thinking,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Moumakwe said one of his biggest challenges was convincing organisations to invest in digital marketing when the industry was still developing.
“At first, the hardest part was simply getting people to believe. I overcame that by producing results until the industry caught up. Every challenge has sharpened how deliberately I build platforms that create lasting impact,” he said.
Looking ahead, he plans to expand the STEAM Festival Revision Game Show to every province, grow Afro Connect across Africa and take the education initiative to national television.
“I want young people to know they don’t have to leave Africa or wait for outside validation to build something world-class. We can set the global standard in digital innovation, education and storytelling,” Moumakwe said.