A seat at the table the diaspora built.
The Full Circle Africa Economic Conference brings heads of state, global investors, and diaspora leaders into the same room, to move the story of Africa from aid to investment. Boris Kodjoe co-founded it. It's part of the same Full Circle mission KFF carries forward.
What FCAEC Is
The Full Circle Africa Economic Conference (FCAEC) is a global convening focused on economic advancement and investment in Africa, positioning the continent as a premier destination for global capital while celebrating its culture and heritage. It's the direct follow-up to Full Circle Festival: Year of Return (2019), the diaspora-reconnection event President Nana Akufo-Addo credited with generating roughly $1.6 billion for the Ghanaian economy. Where Year of Return was about reconnection, FCAEC is about what comes after reconnection: investment, infrastructure, and ownership. Boris Kodjoe co-founded the conference to make that shift concrete, moving the diaspora conversation from charity and aid toward economic development and capital.
Accra, 2023: The Inaugural Conference
December 28–29, 2023 · Accra, Ghana
The inaugural FCAEC convened over 50 international business leaders, activists, academics, and entertainment icons. • Chaired by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo • In attendance: President Paul Kagame of Rwanda • Official remarks: U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer, on behalf of the United States government • Primary sponsors: Sand Technologies and AFREXIMBANK (African Export-Import Bank) • Featured speakers: Fred Swaniker (Founder/CEO, Sand Technologies; 2023 TIME100 Impact Award), Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah (President, AFREXIMBANK; 2023 Forbes Africa Person of the Year), Nikole Hannah-Jones (Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist) Sessions covered diaspora economic engagement, counteracting old narratives about Africa, STEM entrepreneurship, infrastructure and connectivity, sustainability, emerging technology, and fintech.
Kigali, 2024: The Second Convening
December 27, 2024 – January 3, 2025 · Kigali, Rwanda FCAEC returned for an eight-day convening in Kigali, the same city where TRCF and Junior's Rwanda Circle story already live inside KFF's world, a real point of connection worth drawing out once confirmed.
⚠ Flagged, needs internal confirmation before publishing as fact: the only source found for this second edition is a third-party event listing, which credits “Kodjoe Family Foundation” as organizer. That attribution hasn't been confirmed by Boris, Nicole, or Cathie.
Voices From the Room
“With a burgeoning ecosystem of bright minds, entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to solving real-world problems, Africa is poised to redefine the global economic landscape. The diversity of ideas and the resilience of innovators across the continent, combined with a young and dynamic population, position Africa not just a hub, but a catalyst for shaping the next wave of transformative breakthroughs.” Boris Kodjoe, FCAEC co-founder
“This year is the inaugural Full Circle Africa Economic Conference as we undertake a mind shift from charity and aid dependencies toward economic development opportunities and investing.” Boris Kodjoe
“At Afreximbank, we are committed to making the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) work for all. [...] FCAEC 2023 will serve as a platform and a vibrant showcase of Africa's immense trade potential, cultural richness, and entrepreneurial spirit.” Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President, AFREXIMBANK
(Real, on-record quotes from the 2023 press launch, not written for this page. Casey/OBDS call on keeping these as attributed press quotes vs. holding for a fresh Boris quote given directly for the KFF site.)
The Bridge to KFF
FCAEC isn't just a conference KFF points to, it connects directly to programs KFF is already building: • Milken Institute. Boris discussed FCAEC on a Milken Institute panel, “Investing in Africa's Creative Economy” (May 2024), the same institutional relationship the site's Us mega-menu has an open “Milken partner page: yes or no?” decision sitting on. • The scholarship bridge. Two new 2025-launch scholarship programs send students to African Leadership Academy (South Africa) and African Leadership University (Kigali, Rwanda), real, live programs. This is the actual substance behind Full Circle Hub's “scholarship bridge to African institutions” line.
Full Circle
FCAEC is one expression of what Full Circle means: the diaspora doesn't just return to Africa, it invests in it.
Explore Full Circle →The table is set. The room is real.
FCAEC exists because Boris Kodjoe built it: heads of state, global investors, and diaspora leaders, in the same room, talking about Africa as an investment, not a cause.