On March 13, the 55th NAACP Image Awards will celebrate African creatives during its International Entertainment Summit at NeueHouse in Los Angeles, California. 

According to a press release, the event will highlight the African creative industry's "essential role" in "driving economic growth and social development." The summit hopes to be an enriching networking opportunity for artists, filmmakers, designers, entrepreneurs, influencers, and more. 

Big names are set to attend -- including South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha and Ghanaian fashion designer/creative director Aisha Ayensu. The event will also host Nigerian-American CEO and founder of Next Narrative Africa Akunna Cook, Nigerian-American Global Head of Marketing for WhatsApp Vivian Odior, and Nigerian director-general of the Centre For Black and African Arts & Civilization, Aisha Augie.

Panel discussions at the NAACP's International Entertainment Summit will include "Collaborative Creativity Across Continents," "Africa's Creative Economy: Opportunities and Challenges," "Strategic Investments in the African Creative Sector," and "Collaborative Dialogue: Building Bridges Between African Americans and Africa."

The event will feature a special screening of the South African drama series Shaka iLembe. Attendees will also be able to enter the "Prosper Africa Virtual Deal Room," where companies can "network with potential investors in Africa."

The NAACP -- founded in New York City in 1909 -- is a civil rights organization that "advocates, agitates, and litigates" for Black America. Through this year's International Entertainment Summit, the nonprofit organization hopes to further dialogues concerning and celebrating the Black/African Diaspora.

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