Stakeholders in Africa’s creative technology and gaming sectors issued a powerful call: storytellers, animators, and game developers must reclaim Africa’s global story. At the Africacomicade Gamathon 2025, voices across the continent urged a narrative shift — from images of conflict and hardship to portrayals of ingenuity, creativity, and forward momentum.
According to Oluwatosin Ogunyebi, co-founder of Africacomicade, the Gamathon—preceded by editions in Ghana and Kenya—offers a continental platform to unite creative studios and highlight achievements in gaming, animation, and immersive media. “The goal is to connect all countries across Africa to showcase what we’re doing as a community,” he said, adding that the event has already enabled cross-border collaboration and co-creation among talents.
Yet, reshaping perception requires more than artistic vision. Victor Mark-Onyegbu, Director of Community and Grantmaking at Africa No Filter, cautioned that media portrayals steeped in stereotypes risk perpetuating harmful myths.
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To counter this, his organization provides creators with tools such as the Bias Booster and MAPS Campaign to surface biases and foster authentic storytelling. “The way you tell Africa’s story determines how the rest of the world sees us,” he warned.
Beyond narrative, presenters surfaced structural challenges. Ogunyebi called for the establishment of a formal industry association to better coordinate with government agencies and ministries. He also pressed for creative education to become part of national curricula, ensuring access beyond private institutions. Addressing parental concerns, he stressed that gaming and immersive media hold real promise in fields such as research, training, and virtual reality.
Looking ahead, organizers declared that the Gamathon will shift to a biennial format beginning in 2027. This change aims to give developers the necessary time to create polished, global-caliber games and immersive projects rather than submitting preliminary demos annually.
