By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
The upcoming East-West Africa Amalgamation will not be confined to a single conference venue but guests will journey through two different sides of Ethiopia which is from the continental and diplomatic atmosphere of Addis Ababa to the cultural experience of Wolaita Soddo.
The programme, scheduled for September 15–23, 2026, will use both locations to tell a broader story about Africa, which is a continent of business and diplomacy, but also culture, heritage and living traditions.
The journey begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital and one of Africa’s most important diplomatic cities.
It is a fitting starting point for an initiative built around connecting African regions.
Addis Ababa is home to the headquarters of the African Union, placing the East-West Africa Amalgamation within a city strongly associated with continental cooperation and African unity.
The programme in the city will feature the official opening of the initiative, business and investment discussions, B2B and B2G engagements, as well as planned institutional visits.
Guests are also expected to explore Ethiopia’s cultural and heritage attractions, offering a balance between formal engagements and destination experiences.
On September 18th, the delegation will leave Addis Ababa and travel to Wolaita Soddo, taking the programme away from the capital and into another part of Ethiopia.
Soddo will host cultural experiences, the Gifata Symposium and Investment Forum, sightseeing and major celebration activities, including music and fashion showcases connecting Ethiopia with Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
The journey to Soddo will also coincide with an Ethiopian New Year celebration, giving guests an opportunity to experience an important cultural moment during their stay.
By choosing two locations instead of one, the East-West Africa Amalgamation is giving guests more than a conference experience but is allowing them to see Ethiopia from different perspectives.
In Addis Ababa, they encounter a city associated with African diplomacy, institutions and continental conversations.In Soddo, they move closer to community, culture, tourism and local experiences.
That combination reflects the larger idea behind the East-West Africa Amalgamation itself as Africa cannot be understood from one room, neither can it be understood through business alone.
To build stronger connections across the continent, people must also experience its cultures, communities and destinations.
From the meeting rooms of Addis Ababa to the cultural spaces of Soddo, the September programme will therefore take Guests on a journey designed to connect business with culture and African integration with lived experience.
The East–West Africa Amalgamation through Tourism, Trade and Creative Arts will hold from September 15–23, 2026, in Addis Ababa and Wolaita Soddo, Ethiopia.
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