Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) officially launched its ambitious Creator Lens initiative yesterday at Nairobi’s iconic Shamba Café, signaling a major strategic shift to empower the next generation of East African content creators.
The inaugural event, held on November 19, brought together a dynamic mix of emerging and established talent, moving beyond traditional product launches to create a hands-on ecosystem for storytelling.
The initiative is grounded in the philosophy of “LENS”, an acronym standing for Learn, Explore, Network, and Synergy. Designed as an immersive experience, the event served as a platform for creators to refine their craft through expert-led panels, interactive sessions, and real-life shooting scenarios. This launch acts as a key pillar of Canon’s “ICE” (Innovation and Customer Experience) strategy, through which the company is actively working to shift market perception. Canon is positioning itself not just as a photography heritage brand, but as a leading force in the video and modern cinema landscape.
At the heart of the event were four dedicated zones, each helmed by an industry expert to demonstrate how Canon technology applies to specific creative genres. TV and radio host Dr. Ofweneke led the Podcast Zone, which targeted the booming audio-visual space by featuring the Live Switcher Application and professional video solutions like the EOS C80 and R5 Mark II. Meanwhile, in the Fashion & Lifestyle Zone, renowned creator Joy Kendi demonstrated the power of compact tools for social media. She focused specifically on the PowerShot V10 and EOS R50V to showcase vertical shooting and live streaming capabilities.
The event also catered to high-end professional videography. In the Wedding Zone, videographer Gabriel Kasha highlighted Canon as the premier choice for capturing nuptials, showcasing 4K Dual Base ISO and Log color grading capabilities with the C50 and R5 Mark II. Rounding out the experience was the Cinematic Zone, where wildlife filmmaker Hans Ngoteya led sessions on high-end storytelling. Ngoteya utilized Canon’s cinema lenses and cameras, including the EOS C400, to demonstrate the intricacies of wildlife cinematography.
In addition to the interactive zones, the event features a range of activations including panel discussions, inspirational keynotes, and live demos where creators can explore Canon products in real-world shooting environments. A content creation competition also run during the event, where participants shot and edited videos using Canon equipment, with entries judged on creativity and technical mastery. Winners will receive exclusive Canon prizes and mentorship opportunities.
“Through ‘Creator Lens’, we aim to nurture and empower a vibrant community of storytellers who are redefining content creation across Africa. This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and enhancing the customer experience through creativity,” said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa.
“Our goal is not only to inspire creators but also to equip them with the tools and skills they need to tell powerful visual stories, moving beyond photography and embracing the limitless possibilities of video.”
While the first edition was being hosted in Kenya, Canon plans to expand the ‘Creator Lens’ experience regionally to Morocco and Nigeria, cultivating a sustainable ecosystem of creators across Africa.
By engaging with macro, micro, and nano influencers, Canon says it aims to encourage creators to upgrade their content creation journeys, transitioning from smartphones to Canon’s range of entry-level and professional cameras designed for video excellence.
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