BY ONYEKACHI VICTORIA PHILIP
The Africa Turkey Trade Centre (ATTC) stands as one of the boldest international economic and cultural activations connected to Africa’s modern continent-building movement championed by tourism entrepreneur and cultural strategist Wanle Akinboboye through Motherland Beckons, Atunda Entertainment, and several Pan-African initiatives.
More than just a trade office, the Africa Turkey Trade Centre was designed as a strategic bridge linking Africa and Türkiye through commerce, tourism, investment, music, culture, and diaspora engagement.
The project became a practical demonstration of how Africa could use partnerships, creativity, and trade diplomacy to strengthen continental development.
1984 — THE FOUNDATION OF THE VISION:
The roots of the Africa Turkey Trade Centre can be traced back to 1984 when Wanle Akinboboye returned to Nigeria after studying Hospitality Management in the United States.
Upon his return, he began building institutions focused on:
African tourism
Cultural identity
Hospitality
Entertainment
Security
International partnerships.
These foundations later evolved into:
Motherland Beckons
Atunda Entertainment
La Campagne Tropicana
Oja Africa
Africa Turkey Trade Centre.
This was the beginning of what would later be described as “continent building” which is the use of tourism, arts, culture, and commerce as tools for African transformation.
2001 — INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE AFRICAN CULTURAL VISION:
In 2001, Wanle Akinboboye received multiple Keys to the City honors in Maryland and Miami in the United States for his contributions to tourism and African cultural promotion.
The recognition increased international visibility for his growing vision of positioning Africa as a global cultural and economic destination rather than merely a continent dependent on foreign narratives.
2003 — AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIPLOMACY EXPANDS
In 2003, Akinboboye served as Artistic Director for the Leon H. Sullivan Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The summit brought together:
African leaders
Investors
Diaspora representatives
International stakeholders.
This strengthened conversations around African development through:
Cultural diplomacy
Tourism investment
International cooperation.
The summit later influenced several continent-building activations linked to trade and cultural integration.
2005–2006 — UNESCO GLOBAL CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
Between 2005 and 2006, Akinboboye participated in several UNESCO-backed global cultural programs including:
UNESCO’s 60th Anniversary in Paris
International Women’s Day at UNESCO Headquarters.
Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations Conference in Abuja.
These engagements elevated the idea that African culture could become an international economic and diplomatic instrument.
2011 — AFRICAN TOURISM AMBASSADOR APPOINTMENT
In 2011, Wanle Akinboboye was officially appointed African Tourism Ambassador by the World Conference of Mayors.
The appointment stated his campaign for:
Pan-African tourism
Diaspora reconnection
Cross-border African partnerships
International tourism investment.
This period intensified his push for practical continent-building projects beyond conferences and speeches.
2014 — CULTURAL FESTIVALS BECOME CONTINENT BUILDING TOOLS
In 2014, Akinboboye became Senior Special Adviser on Tourism to the Ondo State Government.
During this era, the Mare Festival gained stronger international visibility.
The festival combined:
Music
Fashion
Traditional arts
Tourism
Entertainment
into a major cultural activation promoting Africa globally.
The event became one of the strongest examples of using entertainment as a vehicle for continental development.
2015 — PAN-AFRICAN EXPANSION AND AFRICAN UNION INVOLVEMENT
The year 2015 striked a major expansion phase.
Key developments included:
Appointment as Chairman of the African Union Culture, Education and Entertainment Committee.
Appointment as tourism adviser to the Ooni of Ife
Expansion of La Campagne projects into Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.
This period significantly strengthened the institutional and continental relevance of the continent-building movement.
JANUARY 15, 2017 — OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE AFRICA TURKEY TRADE CENTRE
The most defining moment came on January 15, 2017, with the official launch of the Africa Turkey Trade Centre (ATTC) in Konya, Turkey.
The event was attended by:
The President of MUSIAD Turkey.
African diplomats.
Business leaders.
Investors.
35 African ambassadors in Turkey
Cultural forum.
The launch represented far more than a trade partnership.
It symbolized:
Africa–Turkey economic cooperation.
South–South collaboration.
Diaspora business engagement.
Cultural diplomacy.
International investment partnerships.
The Africa Turkey Trade Centre became one of the strongest practical continent-building activations linking Africa with global markets through culture and commerce.
2017 — AFRICA TURKEY MUSIC AMALGAMATION (ATMA)
Following the launch of the Africa Turkey Trade Centre, Atunda Entertainment introduced the Africa Turkey Music Amalgamation (ATMA).
This initiative united African and Turkish musicians in collaborative performances blending:
African rhythms
Turkish musical traditions
Cultural storytelling
Diplomatic entertainment.
Reports stated the performance received a standing ovation lasting approximately 30 minutes.
The event demonstrated how:
Music
Entertainment
Trade
Diplomacy
could operate together as instruments of continental integration.
2018 — TURKEY-AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM STRENGTHENS THE MOVEMENT.
In 2018, the Second Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum held in Istanbul further reinforced the objectives promoted by the Africa Turkey Trade Centre.
The forum gathered:
African Union representatives
Government officials
Investors
Private sector leaders
The discussions focused heavily on:
Trade expansion
Investment partnerships
Manufacturing cooperation
African market development
This strengthened the larger Africa–Turkey economic relationship connected to the ATTC vision.
2020 — AFRICAN UNION ECOSOCC ADVISORY APPOINTMENT
In February 2020, Wanle Akinboboye became Advisor to the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
This appointment increased continental recognition for his:
Tourism-driven economic philosophy
Pan-African cultural strategy
Continent-building framework.
The Africa Turkey Trade Centre continued to be viewed as one of the strongest international expressions of that framework.
2024 — IPADA INITIATIVE CELEBRATION
In late 2024, the IPADA Initiative Celebration was launched at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort.
The event featured:
Carnival processions
African fashion
Culinary exhibitions
Business networking
Diaspora engagement
Youth empowerment activities.
The initiative promoted reconnection between Africans on the continent and Africans in the diaspora through tourism, investment, and cultural identity.
This further expanded the continent-building movement internationally.
2024 — OJA AFRICA MARKETPLACE ACTIVATION
In 2024, the Oja Africa initiative gained stronger public promotion.
The project was designed as a Pan-African marketplace showcasing:
African products
Food
Fashion
Crafts
Arts
Culture
from all 54 African countries.
Like the Africa Turkey Trade Centre, Oja Africa focused on:
Intra-African commerce
Economic integration
Trade visibility
African ownership of markets.
2025 — MOTHERLAND 2025 OFFICIALLY REVEALED:
In February 2025, the Nigerian Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy officially unveiled Motherland 2025 in Abuja.
The initiative focused on:
Diaspora homecoming
Investment
Tourism
African identity
Economic collaboration.
The movement strengthened the broader continent-building agenda that projects like the Africa Turkey Trade Centre had already helped pioneer internationally.
2025 — AFRICA’S FIRST CROSS-BORDER CARNIVAL ANNOUNCED
In 2025, Motherland Beckons and FESTAC Africa announced plans for Africa’s first cross-border carnival parade.
The proposed route included:
Lagos
Cotonou
Lomé
Accra
The carnival symbolized:
Pan-African unity
Tourism integration
Cultural mobility
Continental celebration.
The activation further reflected the same philosophy behind the Africa Turkey Trade Centre using culture, movement, entertainment, and business to connect Africa beyond borders.
Continent-building movement continues to promote the idea that Africa’s future can be driven not only by politics and natural resources, but also by culture, creativity, tourism, and strategic global partnership.