Diaspora Week Lagos is in full swing, and everyone has been having a great time. From studio visits and conversations with founders to tech conferences, fashion shows and film premieres, the first five days have been packed with experiences that offer a different way to engage with Lagos and the continent.

Here’s a look at what went down.

Day 1: Beauty, tech and the business of building across Africa

The first full day of Diaspora Week Lagos kicked off with a studio visit to Dabota Beauty, a clean beauty brand based in the heart of Lekki Phase 1. Beyond a tour of the studio, delegates got some one-on-one time with founder Dabota Lawson, who shared the story behind her career trajectory, the philosophy driving her brand and why she is as passionate about keeping her beauty products clean as she is about building the business.

We followed this up with a visit to Moonshot by TechCabal, one of the continent’s biggest tech gatherings. Between conversations with tech founders and presentations exploring technology, storytelling and media, there was plenty to take in. We left a little smarter, more inspired and with a better sense of the ideas shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem.

At its heart, Diaspora Week Lagos is about expanding how the diaspora engages with the continent. Beyond remittances and short visits, the goal is to create opportunities for long-term collaboration, investment and business-building across Africa.

That ambition was palpable at the Diaspora Capital Dinner in Lagos, hosted by MaC Venture Capital in partnership with Amplify Africa. Held at KNOWHERE Lagos, just off Victoria Island, the dinner brought together investors, founders and economic and cultural leaders shaping the future of business on and off the continent.

Among the guests were Sanmi Olukanmi, co-founder and CEO of Shekel Mobility, one of the Nigerian companies backed by MaC Venture Capital; Marlon Nichols, founding managing partner of MaC Venture Capital; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Flutterwave and Andela, and founder of investment firm Future Africa.

Day 2: Design and more tech conversations

Day two began with a visit to the Ananse Centre for Design, offering delegates another opportunity to engage with the people and ideas shaping Africa’s creative landscape. From there, it was back to Moonshot by TechCabal for a second round of conversations, presentations and networking. With so much happening across the conference, there was no shortage of ideas to explore and people to meet.

Day 3: Inside the Dangote Refinery and a fashion week night out

Earlier this year, our coverage of the Dangote Refinery IPO generated significant interest among members of the African diaspora, with more than 60,000 expressions of interest recorded. It was only fitting, then, that Diaspora Week Lagos brought delegates closer to one of the continent’s most significant industrial projects with a guided tour of the Dangote Refinery.

It is one thing to read about the scale of the refinery; it is another to experience it firsthand. The tour offered delegates a closer look at the facility and the ambition behind one of Africa’s biggest industrial investments. It was an experience that was difficult to fully capture in words.

By 6 p.m., it was time to switch gears and tap into Lagos Fashion Week season, with a stop at IN Official by Ifeanyi Fashion bringing the day to a stylish close.

Day 4: Fashion, creative community and Sunday afternoon in Lagos

We were clearly on a fashion roll. Day four delivered a back-to-back experience, beginning with the Vane Styles private shopping experience, followed by an exclusive, invitation-only fashion show by Rendoll.

The afternoon continued at The Global Creatives Hangout at Akoko Lagos, a relaxed gathering that brought creatives together in a beautiful third space for conversations, networking and sessions led by some of the industry’s leading voices. Speakers included Tutu A. Adetunmbi, founder of CorpCi, and Amazing Klef, founder of Aktivated TV, among others.

For creatives looking to connect with their community and exchange ideas, it was the perfect Sunday afternoon outing.

The day wasn’t over just yet. We rounded things off with a fashion kickback at the Africana House Style Souk. The space was beautiful, made even more vibrant by the clothes, the people and the energy of everyone who came through.

Day 5: Lights, cameras and AFRIFF

Day five was dedicated to the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), and it did not disappoint.

The red carpet was packed with familiar faces, turning celebrity spotting into something of a fun game. Among the highlights was seeing Diaspora Week Lagos delegates and Hollywood stars Meagan Good-Majors and Jonathan Majors make their appearance, both looking stunning on the red carpet. We also spotted some of Nollywood and international cinema’s familiar faces, including Rita Dominic and Djimon Hounsou, before heading in for the festival’s opening film, Lady.

It was a fitting end to five days that have taken delegates across some of the most exciting parts of Lagos’s business, creative, fashion and cultural scenes. And with more of Diaspora Week Lagos still to come, there’s plenty more to look forward to.