The 21st BAFTA Game Awards, held on April 8, 2025, dazzled the global gaming community with its signature flair, honouring standout titles like Astro Bot, Still Wakes the Deep, and Helldivers 2. Hosted in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, the ceremony marked a celebration of technological innovation, narrative brilliance, and design mastery in the gaming world. But as the spotlight shone on the West’s achievements, one question continues to simmer beneath the surface: where does Africa stand in all of this?
BAFTA’s Vision vs. Africa’s Reality
At the BAFTAs, studios like Team Asobi and Sumo Digital were praised for intricate animation, immersive sound design, and polished gameplay—elements that are the result of multi-million-dollar investments and decades of industry evolution. In contrast, Africa’s game development scene is still in its infancy, battling with fundamental issues such as limited infrastructure, funding constraints, and a lack of institutional support.
While Astro Bot walked away with five trophies, developers across Africa are often left fighting to even finish a game—let alone have it played globally. There’s immense passion, no doubt, but the pipeline from idea to launch is often broken or inaccessible.
The State of Gaming in Africa
Despite the challenges, there’s growing momentum in Africa’s gaming space. Studios like Kenya’s Nairobits Games, Nigeria’s Maliyo Games, and South Africa’s Sea Monster are slowly gaining international traction. In 2023, Maliyo Games launched Whot King, a modern twist on the classic Nigerian card game, which has already seen over 500,000 downloads. In the same year, Uganda’s Kola Studios hit 1 million downloads on their flagship title Matatu.
However, these milestones are often under-celebrated. There are few to no formal game awards recognizing talent within Africa, let alone continental showcases akin to BAFTA. This void further underlines the absence of the kind of ecosystem that supports creative iteration, cross-collaboration, and recognition—all of which are vital for the industry’s growth.
Why Recognition Matters
Award platforms like BAFTA do more than hand out trophies—they validate creative work, provide global visibility, and build reputations that lead to more investment. When Yoko Shimomura received the BAFTA Fellowship for her contributions to game music, it not only honored her decades of work but also inspired a generation of composers globally.
In Africa, where emerging developers are still fighting for visibility, the absence of such platforms means many games die in obscurity—even if they’re culturally rich or technically sound. Without validation and structured recognition, it’s hard to attract the funding or mentorship needed to grow.
What Africa Can Learn from BAFTA’s Framework
- Cultural Infrastructure: BAFTA is deeply embedded in the UK’s arts and media landscape. Africa needs to build similar linkages, positioning gaming alongside film, music, and visual arts. Institutions like the Kenya Film Commission or NFVF in South Africa could create sister programs to support gaming.
- Category Diversity: The BAFTA awards didn’t just focus on Best Game; they honored categories like Audio, Narrative, and Family Game. This granularity helps recognize niche talents. African awards—when they exist—are often too broad to give gaming its due credit.
- Public and Private Sector Collaboration: BAFTA’s success lies in how it brings together studios, government bodies, universities, and tech companies. For Africa to follow suit, there needs to be intentional collaboration. Programs like Creation Africa, Ubisoft’s mentorship programs in Africa, and UNESCO’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) provide some starting points.
What’s Holding Africa Back?
One key issue is funding. A 2022 report by Newzoo and Carry1st showed that Africa’s gaming industry is growing at 12% annually, with over 200 million gamers—yet, there are only a handful of game publishers and studios. Most developers self-fund their projects and lack access to distribution channels like Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox.
There’s also a skills gap. While the West has access to formal education in game design, Africa’s aspiring devs often learn through YouTube tutorials or peer-to-peer networks. Initiatives like Africa Game Developer Bootcamp, GameUp Africa, and university programs in South Africa and Egypt are trying to address this, but there’s a long way to go.
Building a Continental Stage
There have been attempts to celebrate African game development. In 2023, NAICCON (Nairobi Comic Con) launched SheCreates, a program empowering women in gaming and digital art. Events like Playtopia in South Africa and Lagos Comic Con also offer platforms for local devs to showcase their work.
However, these efforts are still fragmented. The continent needs a unifying body—a BAFTA equivalent—that can set standards, curate excellence, and organize annual awards for African games.
Imagine a future where Zimbabwe’s AfroTales, Nigeria’s Sade and the Robot, or Rwanda’s Ingoma Warriors are globally recognized for excellence in game design, animation, and storytelling. Recognition would inspire more creatives, increase access to funding, and place Africa squarely on the global gaming map.
What Needs to Be Done
- Governments need to recognize gaming as a viable industry—worthy of tax breaks, grants, and inclusion in national arts policies.
- Private sector players like mobile network operators, banks, and tech companies must invest in studios, tournaments, and infrastructure.
- Developers and creatives should form alliances to push for continental awards, mentorship programs, and co-productions.
- Media outlets should highlight African games the way they highlight film and music.
Learning from BAFTA, Building for Africa
The 2025 BAFTA Game Awards showed us what is possible when talent meets support. For Africa to reach that stage, it will take more than passion—it will require structure, investment, and validation. The talent is here. The stories are rich. The gamers are playing. What’s missing is the platform.
Africa might be years away from its own BAFTA-level awards, but every step—from local game jams to university training programs and regional showcases—is a move toward that dream. Let’s learn from the best, build our own systems, and ensure that when global awards are held in the future, African games don’t just watch—they compete.
Sources:
- BAFTA Awards 2025: bafta.org
- Newzoo & Carry1st African Gaming Report 2022: newzoo.com
- UNESCO CANEX: unesco.org
- Maliyo Games: maliyogames.com
- NAICCON: naiccon.com