Media entrepreneur, storyteller and host of the viral talk show #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo, will be speaking at the 2026 African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 25–27. Jideonwo will join Plenary 4: “Narratives & Africa’s Soft Power,” a conversation examining the power of storytelling, entertainment and cultural influence to shape perceptions of Africa, inspire action and move resources towards causes that matter.
Themed “Bridge the Divide; Reimagine the Future,” the 2026 APF Conference brings together philanthropists, changemakers, cultural leaders and influential voices from across Africa and the Global South to explore how giving can address inequality, unlock resources and build solutions for Africa’s most pressing priorities. Jideonwo will be in conversation with an exceptional panel featuring Siya Kolisi, Black Coffee, Vanessa Moungar and Julia Quinn, with Vimbai Masiyiwa serving as moderator. The session positions storytelling not simply as a tool for representation, but as a force capable of shifting beliefs, influencing behaviour and strengthening Africa’s global soft power.
Through Jideonwo’s work across media, storytelling, philanthropy and public conversations, including his recent work with the FourthMainland Fund, he continues to explore how stories can move people from awareness to action. His participation at APF 2026 places him alongside leading African and global voices at a critical conversation about how the continent can tell its own stories, influence its own narrative and ultimately mobilise greater support for the future it seeks to build.
