Luxury Cannes villa at night — African Diamond Showcase
africandiamonds.world  ·  The Global Platform

African
Natural
Diamonds

Next Activation Cannes
22 June 2026
Upcoming Mission Angola
Trade Mission
Global Database 30,000+
Leaders
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Platformafricandiamonds.world
Presented by88Percent · ADC · ADMA
PartnersCapital 88 · Alliance Development Partners
Hosted byDr M'zée Fula-Ngenge · Chair of Proceedings
AccessBy Invitation Only
African natural diamond jewellery — luxury and aspiration Where origin meets opportunity
The Platform

Africa's natural
diamonds.
The world's attention.

"The platform that showcases and connects Africa's diamond sector and ecosystem to the world — retelling the narrative of natural African diamonds to a new generation, growing consumer demand and the economic and social viability of the industry."

We operate co-located activations at the world's major events, festivals, and exhibitions — placing Africa's natural diamond story where the most influential decision-makers already gather. Beyond events, we facilitate and nurture a year-round pipeline of relationships that converts perception into commercial traction. Central to our mission: retelling the narrative of African natural diamonds to a new, global, and young audience.

01
Perception to Commercial Traction
Shifting global narrative into real commercial outcomes — partnerships, licensing, and retail channels.
02
Global Consumer Demand Growth
Retelling the narrative of African natural diamonds to new and global audiences — building enduring desire through culture, brand, and the voices of the next generation.
03
Socio-Economic Impact
Commercial growth anchored in local beneficiation, job creation, and shared prosperity.
Luxury Cannes villa — Night of African Diamonds
22 June 2026 · Cannes, France · By Invitation Only

An evening
of rare access

A defining moment at the opening of one of the world's most prestigious festivals — setting the narrative for Africa through luxury, culture, provenance and global influence. At an exclusive Cannes Riviera villa, by invitation only.

Proven Track Record · Two Years at Cannes

Two years.
One platform.
Built.

Our team has activated at Cannes for two consecutive years — building one of the most trusted independent platforms at the festival. Operating a 30,000-strong curated global database, delivering a full week of curated networking, one-to-one meetings, panel sessions, and premium hosted events. Every logistic, every guest, every introduction — managed end to end.

3,500+Registrations from global brand marketing leaders
100+Attendees per session
57Commercial deals agreed through onsite curated meetings
200+Creators in attendance
30KCurated global database of brand and cultural leaders
The Full Programme · 22 June 2026 · Cannes

Four days.
One movement.

A carefully curated four-day programme at Cannes 2026 — from an intimate private villa showcase to a week of deal-making, dinners, and cultural celebration. Each day is purposeful, each room is curated, every conversation is pre-arranged.

Monday
22 June
African Diamond Showcase
& Night of Diamonds
Tuesday
23 June
Private 1:1 Meetings
& Client Activations
Wednesday
24 June
Private Dinners
& Personalised Activations
Thursday
25 June
88% Programme
& Power List Party
Luxury Cannes villa — Night of African Diamonds
22 June · Private Villa · Cannes
Monday 22 June 2026 · By Invitation Only
African Diamond Showcase &
The Night of African Diamonds

A curated multimedia exhibition hosted within an exclusive private villa in Cannes — chaired and co-hosted by Dr M'zée Fula-Ngenge (ADC) and Mr António Oliveira (ADMA). An intimate gathering of 40–60 leaders: industry innovators, cultural icons, tastemakers, collectors, investors and global press. Equal parts celebration and statement — Africa is now setting the terms of its own story.

  • Private Senior Roundtable · 14:00–16:00 · Chaired by Dr M'zée Fula-Ngenge
  • African Diamond Showcase · Curated multimedia exhibition · Private Villa
  • The Night of African Diamonds · Entertainer to Investor Dinner · Sunset
  • Live intimate performance · African chef · Champagne reception
Private 1:1 meetings and roundtable
23–24 June · Private · Cannes
Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June 2026
Private 1:1 Meetings,
Dinners & Client Activations

Two days of private, curated commercial activity — pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, personalised activations, and invitation-only dinners. Every meeting is purposeful, pre-qualified, and commercially focused. The conversations that move from Cannes to commercial reality are made here.

  • Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings — aligned to your commercial objectives
  • Personalised activations for partners and sponsors
  • Private invitation-only dinners — curated guest lists
  • 88Percent Capital Session · Africa to the World C-Suite Conversation
88Percent programme Cannes
25 June · 88% Programme · Cannes
Thursday 25 June 2026 · Cannes
88% Programme &
Power List Party

The flagship 88Percent day — where the Global Majority culture drives economic power. A full day of sessions, panels, and conversations with storytellers, creators, and brand leaders shaping cultural resonance, market relevance and growth for global brands. Culminating in the 88% Power List Party.

  • Luxury's Next Billion · AI & The New Creative Frontier · Africa's Creative Explosion
  • Global Majority Sports Boom · Media Surge · The Female Economy
  • 88Percent Capital: Where Capital Meets Culture for Growth
  • 88% Power List Party · Recognising the culture shapers of the Global Majority
Angola — year-round trade mission and relationship pipeline
Platform · Year-Round
Year-Round · Angola Trade Mission · Global Platform
Facilitating & Nurturing
a Relationship Pipeline

The platform operates year-round — facilitating and nurturing relationships between Africa's diamond industry and global partners. Cannes is the catalyst. Angola is the conversion. The year-round pipeline ensures every connection deepens into long-term commercial outcome.

  • 30,000-strong curated global database of brand and cultural leaders
  • Angola Trade Mission · Direct access to operations and government
  • Ongoing commercial introductions via Alliance Development Partners
  • Perception to commercial traction · Socio-economic impact
Proven Track Record · Two Years at Cannes

Previous
Editions

Year 1 · Cannes
Inaugural Cannes Activation

A full week of curated sessions, one-to-one business meetings, panel programming, and evening events at Cannes — establishing a 30,000-strong global database of brand and cultural leaders and building the platform infrastructure on which the African Diamond Showcase is built.

  • Full week of curated networking and pre-arranged one-to-one business meetings
  • Concierge audience delivery — attendees pre-matched to partner commercial objectives
  • Global CMOs, luxury executives, brand leaders, and cultural decision-makers in attendance
Year 2 · Cannes
Scale — A Landmark Cultural Moment

A headline session with a world-renowned global cultural leader drew significant international attention and elevated the platform's profile. 3,500+ registrations. 57 commercial deals agreed through onsite curated meetings. 200+ creators in attendance.

  • 3,500+ registrations from global brand marketing leaders across the festival
  • 57 commercial deals agreed through pre-arranged onsite curated meetings
  • 200+ creators in attendance · 100+ attendees per session
Global leaders represented across our Cannes activations
CartierBulgariVan Cleef & ArpelsTiffany & Co.Harry WinstonChopardGraffDe BeersPiagetMikimoto ChanelDiorLouis VuittonHermèsGucciPradaBurberryValentinoBottega VenetaSaint Laurent Four SeasonsAmanRosewoodCorinthia HotelsBelmondMandarin Oriental RolexPatek PhilippeTag HeuerIWCAudemars Piguet MetaNetflixTikTokAdidasSamsungHSBCDiageoUnileverNikeBBCLegoMastercardTescoLive NationUniversalDeezerFinancial TimesEdelmanBursonAWSUberSonyPrimarkExpediaVisit BritainFortnum & MasonStone IslandOatlyStockXClear ChannelMarsNokiaNow TVRoyal NavyDow JonesDr Barbara SturmLucky SaintMejuri
African natural diamond — origin of luxury
The origin of luxury

Africa's
natural diamonds.

Africa's natural diamonds carry a story no laboratory can replicate — of origin, community, culture, and extraordinary geological rarity. The platform exists to ensure that story reaches the people who decide what the world desires.

Who We Connect

The industry to
the world

African Diamond Industry
  • African natural diamond producers — industry principals seeking global brand partners and demand channels
  • Diamond cutters, polishers & manufacturers — seeking luxury buyers and brand licensing access
  • Local beneficiation enterprises — positioning Africa's value-add capacity to global partners
  • Mining investment vehicles — private equity, DFIs, and sovereign wealth funds
  • Government & trade ministries — trade ministers and industry policy-makers
  • Industry association bodies — ADC, ADMA, Kimberley Process representatives
Global Partners & Demand Generators
  • Global CMOs & brand directors — luxury, lifestyle, and prestige category leaders
  • Luxury jewellery retailers & buyers — actively sourcing natural diamond collections
  • High jewellery fashion houses — Maison directors, creative leads, and procurement
  • Celebrity entertainers & cultural ambassadors — global consumer aspiration
  • Digital creators & next-generation influencers — young, culturally relevant voices with high-net-worth and aspirational audiences who are reshaping how luxury is desired
  • ESG & sustainability leads — provenance-led responsible luxury advocates
Sponsor & Partner Invitation Policy

Sponsors and partners are actively encouraged to invite their own global partners, clients, and contacts to attend all platform activations — extending the commercial network and amplifying outcomes for every participant.

Angola coastline — African diamond trade mission
Upcoming · Angola · 2026/27
Trade Mission

Angola
Trade Mission

The Angola Trade Mission converts Cannes conversations into in-country commercial outcomes — bringing international partners, buyers, investors, and brand decision-makers directly to Angola's diamond operations, processing facilities, and government stakeholders.

Designed to consolidate relationships established at Cannes and across the platform, the Mission ensures every in-country meeting is purposeful, pre-qualified, and commercially ready.

All platform participants receive priority access and inclusion in the Angola Trade Mission programme.

Why the Industry Must Be Here

Six reasons to
be in the room

01
High-value relationships

Direct access to CMOs, luxury brand buyers, and global influencers. Pre-arranged introductions aligned to your specific commercial objectives.

02
Cultural brand positioning

Africa's natural diamond origin story told directly to global CMOs, next-generation influencers, and the cultural voices who shape what the world desires — at the world's most influential creative gathering.

03
Commercial conversations

Supply partnerships, licensing, and retail channel access with pre-qualified counterparts. 57 commercial deals were agreed at a single activation.

04
Premium brand association

Co-branded invitations, bespoke signage, and diamond-inspired visual storytelling woven throughout the venue and evening programme.

05
Global amplification

Professional photography and creator-led content extending your brand's visibility to a 30,000-strong curated global database of decision-makers.

06
Year-round pipeline

Opted-in contact data and a 12-month partnership support programme via Alliance Development Partners and 88Percent's global network.

The Night of African Diamonds — diamond craftsmanship
22 June 2026 · French Riviera · By Invitation Only

The Night of
African Diamonds

An invitation-only evening. Global CMOs. Celebrity entertainers. Luxury executives. Cultural tastemakers. Investors. One room, one story — an industry rewriting its narrative on the world stage.

Expected Outcomes

What participation
delivers

Perception to commercial traction

Shifting the global narrative into real commercial outcomes — partnerships, brand associations, and retail channels generating measurable revenue.

Global consumer demand growth

Building enduring consumer desire for natural diamonds through cultural storytelling, brand partnerships, and influencer activation.

Socio-economic impact

Commercial growth anchored in shared prosperity — local beneficiation, job creation, community wealth, and policy alignment.

Investment & capital mobilisation

Introductions through Capital 88 to investors committed to beneficiation infrastructure and community wealth sharing.

Angola Trade Mission conversion

International partners connected directly to African diamond operations within 12 months of Cannes.

Year-round relationship pipeline

A sustained 12-month programme of curated introductions ensuring every Cannes connection is nurtured through to outcome.

88% Advisory Board

Strategic advisors
shaping the platform

Co-Host · Chair of Proceedings · Advisory Board
Dr M'zée Fula-Ngenge

Veteran mining engineer and global economist with 40+ years in the diamond industry. Chairman of the African Diamond Council. Co-Host and Chair of Proceedings of the African Diamond Showcase.

Advisory Board · CMO, Cassava Technologies
Ifeoma Jibunoh

Chief Marketing Officer at Cassava Technologies. 20+ years across technology, FMCG and payments. Senior roles at Mastercard and Heineken. Brand strategy and storytelling across Africa and international markets.

Advisory Board · Executive Chairman, Silverbacks Holdings
Ibrahim Sagna

Senegalese financier and Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings. 20+ years global finance across the IMF, Afreximbank, and private equity. Focused on scaling African-born businesses globally.

Advisory Board · Senior Fellow & former CMCO, Mastercard
Raja Rajamannar

Globally recognised for transforming modern marketing through data, creativity and culture. Champion of innovation at the intersection of brand, technology and business growth.

Advisory Board · Head of Original Brands, Sky
Tim Yaw Struthers

Award-winning Scottish-Ghanaian film and TV executive. Head of Original Brands at Sky. Two decades at Universal and major studios. Champion of the African creative economy.

Advisory Board · Founder, Gravana
Cesar Christoforidis

Global sales, marketing and creator economy leader. Founder of Gravana, an AI platform helping brands decode data, culture and commerce across emerging markets.

Project Team

The people
delivering this

CEO · Founder
Vanessa Sawyerr

Brand strategist with 25+ years in partnerships, fundraising, and cultural storytelling. Generated over £15M in sponsorship and sales. Built and delivered event and cultural platforms across Cannes, New York, and London.

Chief Commercial Officer & Partners · Project Lead
Tori Abiola

27 years across Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Delivered 100+ global events and 50+ executive programmes. Generated £50M+ in sponsorship and programme revenues. Trade, investment and venture capital strategist.

Strategic Communications
Jillian Nysedt

African Political Communications Strategist of the Year (2024). Specialist in geopolitical risk and media relations. Previously Weber Shandwick, Washington D.C. MA International Relations, King's College London.

Event Production · French Riviera
Raffael Morrone

Founder of Canne Event Agency. 15+ years delivering high-profile events on the French Riviera including Cannes, MIPIM, and the Film Festival. Clients include L'Oréal, Variety, Spotify, and Canva.

Finance & Development
Craig Otter

20+ years in investment, advisory, and private sector growth in emerging markets. Former European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. ACCA-qualified. Former Editor, The Economist.

CMO & CCO
Nikki Sehgal

General Manager of Media For All CIC. Co-chairs the Advertising Association's Asian Talent Working Group. WACL Talent Award winner. Member of The Media Leader Future 100 Club.

COO
Dudley Sawyerr

15+ years in business strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement. Leads operational delivery and complex partnerships. Lectures in MBA sessions at SOAS, University of London.

Co-Host · African Diamond Manufacturers Association
Mr António Oliveira

Co-host of the African Diamond Showcase and the Night of African Diamonds. A leading figure in the African diamond manufacturing sector, bringing deep industry expertise and a pan-African network to the platform's commercial and advocacy mission.

Business Development & Partnerships
Alliance Development Partners

Lead commercial activation and partnership strategy organisation — connecting Africa's diamond industry with the global commercial and investment network across all platform activations and trade missions.

Get Involved

Join the
platform

Whether you are an African diamond industry principal, a global luxury brand, an investor, or a cultural leader — there is a place for you in the African Natural Diamonds platform.

I am interested in
Direct Enquiries

Request
information

The African Diamond Showcase at Cannes 2026 is by invitation only. For attendance, sponsorship, the Angola Trade Mission, or platform partnership, contact the project lead directly.

tori@88percent.co.uk Platform partners

88Percent  ·  African Diamond Council (ADC)
African Diamond Manufacturers Association (ADMA)
Capital 88  ·  Alliance Development Partners

African natural diamond jewellery

Origin.
To aspiration.

africandiamonds.world · The Global Platform

Perception to commercial traction. Global consumer demand growth. Socio-economic impact. Building a global ecosystem that sustains Africa's natural diamond industry and shares its prosperity — from origin to aspiration.

tori@88percent.co.uk  ·  africandiamonds.world