Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) attracts Animators, Film makers, Investors, Financial Institutions, Advertising Agencies, Musical Video Producers, Media Practitioners, Digital Marketing Professionals, Government Agencies, Information Technology Companies, and the public.

LIFANIMA provides a platform for animators to interact with other stakeholders for optimum value creation and rapid growth of the animation industry. LIFANIMA, one of Africa’s most significant animation festivals, takes place in Lagos, Nigeria, which is also home to NOLLYWOOD, the world’s third-largest film industry. The festival is devoted to fostering animation in Africa.

LIFANIMA attracts the continent’s rising generation of animators, visual effects professionals, studios, and film industry stakeholders. Investors, producers, and private and public sector entities see LIFANIMA as a valuable networking platform.

Founded in 2017, it has become Nigeria’s premier animation festival and now attracts over 1000 entries annually from over 100 countries, firmly establishing Lagos State on the global map of animation film festivals. LIFANIMA’s goal is to provide a platform for animators to interact with other stakeholders to maximize value creation and accelerate the growth of the animation industry.

What To Expect:

Venue:

Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi

Date:

29-31 October, 2024

Regarded as a festival for creators, Playtopia, Africa’s first annual destination for Indie Games & Immersive Arts, is a festival and conference dedicated to celebrating the African gaming and arts scene. Founded in 2018, the event brings together local and global creators and players to share ideas, connect, and exhibit their work.

The Playtopia summit is a two-day summit featuring talks and panels from international and local speakers. Past speakers include prominent figures from the gaming industry, such as Paulo Perdercini, Josie Fletcher, Andrew Parsons, and Anita Sarkeesian.

The main attraction of Playtopia is its arcade, where visitors can try out the latest indie games from Africa and worldwide. Curated by major international indie festivals, the arcade offers a diverse selection of games representing both local talents and international contributions.

Another highlight of Playtopia is the Super Friendship Arcade, an experimental punk games event that challenges the status quo and encourages playfulness. This unique gathering transforms ordinary objects into alternative controllers, resulting in innovative and irreverent gaming experiences.

Playtopia also has a dedicated section called Indie Planet, which showcases games from distant lands and introduces South African audiences to indie games from countries like Japan, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

In addition to games, Playtopia Summit also features immersive and interactive artworks. The festival puts out a general call for submissions and selects the most inspiring pieces to entertain and delight attendees. The artworks break down the barriers between the viewer and the artwork, fostering a more dynamic and personal connection.

Playtopia 2024 which marks the 4th edition of the event will take place from December 6-7.

What To Expect:

Talks
Arcades
Exhibitions
After parties
Bars
Food zone
Chill zone
Rooftop terrace

Venue:

Homecoming Centre, 15 M59, District Six, Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town

Date:

6-7 December 2024

Akwa Ibom Tech Week 2024 is set to take place with over 45 speakers, making it the most promising edition of the event to date. The tech week aims to transform Akwa Ibom State into a thriving tech hub by igniting innovation, fueling tech development, empowering entrepreneurs, and building capacity.

Last year’s event saw over 4,000 attendees, 15 exhibitors, 100 sponsors and partners, and over 10 unique impacts. This year’s event is expected to be even more impactful, with a wider range of speakers and topics covered.

Some of the highlights of the event include:
Keynotes from leading industry experts
Panel discussions on the latest trends in technology
Workshops and training sessions on a variety of tech topics
Networking opportunities with other tech professionals
A showcase of cutting-edge tech products and services
A pitch competition for entrepreneurs

As part of the 2024 Akwa Ibom Tech Week, an Innovation Challenge called AKTW 2024 will be held. The theme of this hackathon is “Building a Resilient Innovation Ecosystem.” It aims to harness the creativity of tech enthusiasts, developers, and innovators to create digital solutions that address pressing issues facing Akwa Ibom State across various economic sectors.

The event will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in tech, network with other professionals, and explore new business opportunities.

Why Attend this year’s event

Learn
Gain insights from the best brains in the business of tech and innovation in Africa

Network
Meet
 the 
biggest
 players 
in
 Africa’s
 innovation
 and
 business 
community.

Visibility
Get
 in 
front 
of
 those
 who
 matter 
to
 your 
business.

Generate Leads
Meet
 future 
clients
 and
 partners
 for
 your
 business.

New Markets
Establish presence in new markets across Southern Nigeria

Venue:

Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resort, Nwaniba Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

Date:

28th Oct. – 2nd Nov., 2024

The Pan-African Unreal Developer Festival marks a significant milestone in Africa’s game development scene, representing the first synchronized multi-city Unreal Engine event across the continent. Scheduled for October 26th, 2024, the pioneering festival connects five major African tech hubs – Nairobi, Dakar, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Lagos – in a simultaneous celebration of game development technology.

The festival, organized by PAGG (Pan Africa Gaming Group) with Epic Games’ sponsorship, goes beyond being just a technical workshop. It represents a paramount intentional step in democratizing access to advanced game development knowledge across Africa.

What makes this event particularly relevant is its focus on Unreal Engine 5, which is at the forefront of modern game development. The festival addresses Africa’s growing need for expertise in high-end game development tools, particularly as the continent’s gaming industry evolves from primarily mobile-focused development to more sophisticated platforms.

The event’s structure is thoughtfully designed to accommodate different time zones across Africa, with start times from 9 AM in West Africa to 11 AM in East Africa. Each location offers a unique blend of global expertise through Epic Games professionals and local talent showcasing their work, creating a perfect mix of international standards and African context.

This festival also represents a shift in Africa’s gaming industry, moving from being primarily consumers to becoming active creators of high-end gaming content. The inclusion of UEFN (Unreal Engine for Fortnite) in the program particularly highlights the continent’s readiness to participate in global gaming phenomena.

The timing of this event, coming just as Unreal Engine 5 is gaining traction globally, positions African developers to be part of the current wave of game development innovation, rather than playing catch-up as has often been the case historically.

What to expect at this year’s event

– Inspiring talks from Epic Games representatives, including the amazing Gaurav Mathur alongside Arvind Neelakantan.
– Real-world case studies from talented developers across Africa.
– Engaging panel discussions on animation with top industry studios.
– Interactive Q&A sessions with key leaders from Epic Games.
– Networking opportunities to connect and share insights with fellow UE developers on the continent.

Venue:

Nairobi, Dakar, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Lagos

Date:

26 October, 2024

Africa Games Week emerged around 2018, growing from smaller local gaming meetups in Cape Town. The initiative was born from the need to create a unified platform for Africa’s gaming industry, which was previously fragmented across different countries with limited collaboration opportunities.

Since its inception, the event has grown significantly. What started as a modest gathering of local developers has evolved into continental Africa’s premier gaming event, now attracting thousands of participants from across Africa and beyond. By 2023, it had established itself as a cornerstone event, drawing major industry players like PlayStation and Unity Technologies.

The event’s impact is reflected in its growth numbers – from hosting about 150 delegates in its early days to now managing over 2,500 participants annually. It’s played a crucial role in several African gaming success stories, helping studios secure publishing deals and funding. For instance, South African games like “Beautiful Desolation” and “Boet Fighter” gained international attention through connections made at AGW.

This growth mirrors the expansion of Africa’s gaming market, which has seen remarkable development over the past five years. The event has become instrumental in addressing key challenges like limited funding and market access that previously held back African game developers. Through its evolution, Africa Games Week has become more than just an event – it’s now a crucial catalyst for the continent’s gaming industry development.

More recently, the event has expanded its scope to include mobile gaming and esports, reflecting the changing landscape of African gaming, where mobile platforms dominate due to greater accessibility. The introduction of the Africa Games Awards has also helped establish industry standards and recognize excellence across the continent. Now in its 7th edition, it enacted itself as the premium business event in Africa for the video game industry. Developers, content creators and industry leaders from across Africa and the globe are invited to come connect, engage and grow the African Game Industry.

What to expect at this year’s event

Industry professional speakers:
Gain valuable insights and expertise from seasoned experts, empowering your growth in the gaming indu

Workshops
Acquire practical skills and knowledge through interactive workshops, advancing your proficiency and game dev tool-set

B2B Meetings & Matchmaking:
Cultivate vital connections with key players in the gaming market, fostering collaboration and business opportunities

Africa Game Exhibition:
Explore and showcase the diverse creativity and innovation emerging from Africa, fostering recognition and collaboration on a global scale

Cape Town Tours:
Connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge trends, and immerse yourself in the vibrant gaming community against the backdrop of stunning landscapes and rich culture.

Venue:

Workshop 17 in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Date:

2 DEC – 5 DEC, 2024

Africa’s Premium Networking Event for the Gaming Industry

The West African Gaming Convention (WAGCON) serves as a vital networking platform for the African Gaming Industry. It offers stakeholders the opportunity to connect, share innovative ideas, and seek potential clients and partners.

WAGCON is a stage for Gaming Technology Manufacturers and producers to showcase their products and services, aiming for both B2C and B2B customer acquisition and partnerships.

For avid gamers, enthusiasts, and aficionados, WAGCON presents an unparalleled chance to witness the latest advancements in gaming technology, hardware, and software. It also serves as a space for relaxation and friendly competition, with various tournaments offering exciting prizes.

For game developers, WAGCON is an essential hub for knowledge exchange and thought-provoking discussions. It acts as a platform for exploring the future of African Game development, fostering collaboration and driving progress within the industry.

Venue:

Landmark Event Center; 2&3, Water Corporation Road, VI Annex, Victoria Island, Eti Osa, Lagos, Nigeria

Date:

Friday, November 29, from 9am – 4pm WAT