Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) has officially launched its inaugural Canon Creator Lens event, a first-of-its-kind creative experience designed to empower East Africa’s fast-growing community of content creators. Hosted at the iconic Shamba Café in Nairobi, the event marks a significant expansion of Canon’s commitment to innovation, storytelling, and creator development across the continent.
A Platform for Creativity, Learning, and Collaboration
Described by Canon as more than just an event, Creator Lens serves as a participatory platform bringing together emerging and established creators from across East Africa. The initiative began with an open call inviting creatives in fashion, lifestyle, weddings, wildlife, and podcasting to join a diverse community built on connection and innovation.
The immersive experience features expert-led panel discussions, inspirational talks, hands-on “touch & try” sessions with Canon’s latest products, and live demonstrations in real creative setups.
The name Creator Lens reflects its core philosophy—Learn, Explore, Network, and Synergy—the four pillars guiding the event’s mission.
Strengthening Canon’s Strategic Shift Toward Video Leadership
The event forms a key part of Canon’s broader ICE strategy (Innovation and Customer Experience), which aims to deepen customer engagement and empower creators with tools that meet the demands of modern content creation.
Through ICE, Canon is accelerating its shift from being viewed primarily as a photo brand to becoming a leading video brand on the continent—responding to Africa’s booming creator economy and the rising demand for high-quality motion content.
Four Immersive Zones Showcasing Canon’s Creative Technology
1. Podcast Zone – Led by Dr. Ofweneke (TV & Radio Host)
Creators explore Canon’s podcasting and video solutions including the EOS C80, R5 Mark II, C50, and the EOS R50V, with a focus on multi-camera workflows powered by Canon’s Live Switcher App.
2. Fashion & Lifestyle Zone – Led by Joy Kendi (Fashion & Lifestyle Creator)
Featuring compact tools like the PowerShot V10 and EOS R50V, this zone demonstrates best practices for beauty, lifestyle, vertical shooting, and live streaming.
3. Wedding Zone – Led by Gabriel Kasha (Wedding Videographer)
Showcasing Canon’s strengths in wedding cinematography, the zone highlights 4K Dual Base ISO, Log color grading, and premium cameras such as the C50 and R5 Mark II.
4. Cinematic Zone – Led by Hans Ngoteya (Wildlife Filmmaker)
Participants get a close-up look at Canon’s cinema line-up—including the EOS C50, C80, and C400—designed for demanding wildlife and documentary environments.
Competitions, Community, and Creator Growth
Beyond the hands-on showcases, the event features panel conversations, masterclasses, and practical demos in real-world environments.
A live content-creation competition challenges participants to shoot and edit videos using Canon gear, with winners receiving Canon prizes and one-on-one mentorship.
“Through ‘Creator Lens’, we aim to nurture and empower a vibrant community of storytellers who are redefining content creation across Africa,” said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director at CCNA.
“Our goal is not only to inspire creators but also to equip them with the tools and skills to tell powerful visual stories—moving beyond photography and embracing the limitless possibilities of video.”
Expanding Across Africa: Morocco and Nigeria Next
With Kenya hosting the inaugural edition, Canon has announced its intention to expand Creator Lens into Morocco and Nigeria, building a cross-continental ecosystem of creators equipped to compete globally.
Canon will also engage influencers at all levels—macro, micro, and nano—to encourage creators to elevate their craft and transition from smartphone shooting to Canon’s portfolio of entry-level and professional video cameras.
