Sixty young creative pros packed a room buzzing with energy and slight jitters. They arrived Saturday morning ready for the Cannes Young Lions Competitions kickoff. This big event runs for two days at EABL headquarters, starting today and finishing on March 9, 2025. These talented young people feel both nervous and excited about showing their skills globally.
Some felt thrilled just being picked. Others saw this chance to stretch their abilities and develop. Francis Kimathi competes in the digital group, caring as much about learning as winning. He loves online platforms, campaigns, and gaming, entering with mixed feelings. "I'm a bit nervous, but I'm okay," he shared. "Aiming to put my best foot forward. Honestly, I just want to have fun through the event. I hope my project becomes a bigger venture to help me grow my business."
Teams work in pairs, making teamwork essential for Francis. He can't wait to jump into the creative atmosphere around him. Tinashi Mwaniki and Maissy Wairimu from the design category felt comfortable entering together. "We're both in the design space, so it was quite a fast decision," Wairimu explained. The pair spotted the contest announcement on Instagram and quickly applied without hesitation.
They stayed calm about cutting. "We weren't surprised when they chose us. It was cool," Mwaniki said. Despite mixed emotions as competition day arrived, they wanted simple things: enjoy themselves, connect with others, and make great content. Chrys and partner Mwaki Oringa see this contest as a chance to stand out with creativity. Chrys found the opportunity on LinkedIn and immediately talked to Oringa.
"I walked up to him and asked him, 'Do you want to do something crazy, I guess, before we die?'" They thought it seemed "cool" to become chosen competitors. Like everyone else there, these two aim to win but also enjoy the experience. This gathering brings together Kenya's 60 most promising creative minds, giving them a rare shot at international recognition.
The competition offers a stage for fresh talent in advertising, design, and digital work. With three main areas—digital, design, and print—each featuring ten teams of two people, contestants must create and present a campaign for a charity or purpose-driven group in just 24 hours. As these professionals compete for a spot at the Cannes Lions Festival in France, Safaricom provides crucial support.
The phone company serves as the main sponsor, helping add innovative elements to the competition. Their backing plays a key role in these talented creators pushing creative boundaries.
Some felt thrilled just being picked. Others saw this chance to stretch their abilities and develop. Francis Kimathi competes in the digital group, caring as much about learning as winning. He loves online platforms, campaigns, and gaming, entering with mixed feelings. "I'm a bit nervous, but I'm okay," he shared. "Aiming to put my best foot forward. Honestly, I just want to have fun through the event. I hope my project becomes a bigger venture to help me grow my business."
Teams work in pairs, making teamwork essential for Francis. He can't wait to jump into the creative atmosphere around him. Tinashi Mwaniki and Maissy Wairimu from the design category felt comfortable entering together. "We're both in the design space, so it was quite a fast decision," Wairimu explained. The pair spotted the contest announcement on Instagram and quickly applied without hesitation.
They stayed calm about cutting. "We weren't surprised when they chose us. It was cool," Mwaniki said. Despite mixed emotions as competition day arrived, they wanted simple things: enjoy themselves, connect with others, and make great content. Chrys and partner Mwaki Oringa see this contest as a chance to stand out with creativity. Chrys found the opportunity on LinkedIn and immediately talked to Oringa.
"I walked up to him and asked him, 'Do you want to do something crazy, I guess, before we die?'" They thought it seemed "cool" to become chosen competitors. Like everyone else there, these two aim to win but also enjoy the experience. This gathering brings together Kenya's 60 most promising creative minds, giving them a rare shot at international recognition.
The competition offers a stage for fresh talent in advertising, design, and digital work. With three main areas—digital, design, and print—each featuring ten teams of two people, contestants must create and present a campaign for a charity or purpose-driven group in just 24 hours. As these professionals compete for a spot at the Cannes Lions Festival in France, Safaricom provides crucial support.
The phone company serves as the main sponsor, helping add innovative elements to the competition. Their backing plays a key role in these talented creators pushing creative boundaries.
