Spending time with the Africa team in London was one of the most exciting moments of my time at Canva.
I was there for Canva's EMEA International Moment — teams from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in one room for two days. It was a real reminder of how far we've come: building a strong presence for Canva across Africa, and putting these tools directly into the hands of Africans.
We brought home an award
I'm proud to share that our Sub-Saharan Africa team won "The Golden Canva" — Best in Class for Community-Led Expansion.
That recognition isn't really about a certificate on a stage. It's about the thousands of people across the continent who showed up, learned a skill, and started putting it to work. The award has their name on it as much as ours.
Community management is more than announcements
Here's the thing most people get wrong about being a community manager: they think it's about sending announcements and posting updates.
It's not.
It's about making sure Africans have real opportunities to monetize their skills using Canva. It's about turning "I can design a little" into "I get paid to design." That's the work — and it's the reason a trip like this means so much to me.
When I sat with the team in London, we weren't just talking about follower counts or engagement numbers. We were talking about people — creators in Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, and everywhere in between who are learning a skill, building a brand, and getting paid in their own currency.
What this means for you
If you're reading this and you're somewhere in Africa with a phone, some creativity, and the willingness to learn — this is for you.
Canva isn't a far-off tool built for someone else. It's being built with Africa in mind, and there's a whole community growing around it. Here's how to plug in:
- Learn the tool properly. You don't need a design degree — you need the shortcuts and the confidence. That's exactly what my free tutorials and free tools are for.
- Start charging what you're worth. Most people undercharge because they're guessing. Use the pricing calculator to see a fair rate in your local currency.
- Join the community. You grow faster around people doing the same thing. Come hang out with thousands of African creatives.
Why it matters
Every time I do work like this, I'm reminded that design isn't just a hobby or a side thing. For a lot of us, it's a real path to income — one that doesn't require expensive software, a fancy laptop, or moving abroad.
That's what we're building. Not just a bigger community, but more Africans with the skills and the opportunities to get paid for their creativity.
A huge thank you to the team for making this happen: Bianca Sibiya, Farai Ntuli, Priscilla Menoe-Mtsi, Joy Ngaphu, JP Fawcett, and Omar Fakier. This experience meant a lot — and I'm already looking forward to the next one.
If you've been sitting on the fence about learning Canva, take this as your sign. There's no limit to creativity — and there's never been a better time to build with it.
