Braamfontein, Johannesburg – The Fak’ugesi Festival 2024 concluded last week, a vibrant celebration of digital creativity in Africa, foreshadowing a year of creative innovation coming from the Global South. The Festival, which ran from 02/10/24 to 05/10/24, brought together African artists, technologists, and innovators, who showcased emerging new talents from the Global South in digital arts, gaming, and extended reality (a term used to refer to a combination of Virtual Reality [VR] and Augmented Reality [AR]).
The 2024 edition, the tenth since its founding in 2014, continued pushing boundaries by highlighting the intersections of technology and African culture, drawing inspiration from its Zulu name, which means “Switch On.” Held across multiple venues in the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein, Fak’ugesi not only demonstrated Africa’s talent in digital innovation but also reinforced the continent’s growing influence on the global creative industries. This year’s theme, “Until Unlocked”, reflected the tenacity of the African tech landscape, and the excitement surrounding the innovations currently being developed.
Among the festival’s highlights were its numerous workshops and masterclasses, which provided hands-on opportunities for participants to develop skills in fields like digital storytelling and immersive technologies. These sessions brought together local and international experts, fostering an environment of collaboration and knowledge exchange that is crucial to the growth of Africa’s tech and creative ecosystems.
Fak’ugesi 2024 also spotlighted the rapidly evolving virtual and augmented reality fields, with several immersive experiences that combined African narratives with futuristic digital landscapes. These projects challenged conventional portrayals of Africa in global media, offering fresh perspectives that place African heritage and folklore at the centre of cutting-edge digital art. This project allowed visitors to interact with new technologies not commonly available on the continent, from the latest high-definiton displays to VR headsets.
In the world of gaming, this year’s festival introduced a dedicated gaming lounge, where developers from across the continent showcased uniquely African games. These games were built around cultural themes, historical events, and local legends, providing not just entertainment but also insightful social commentary. A notable trend at this year’s festival was the rise of independent African game developers, whose projects blended entertainment with thought-provoking narratives and visual styles that challenged the norms of the Western gaming industry. Games4Change Africe championed this trend, hosting workshops and important conversations about the role of game developers in transforming their industry into both an economic powerhouse and a vehicle for socioeconomic change in Africa.
Digital art exhibitions were visible throughout the festival, with a wide range of work that celebrated African creativity in the digital realm. Notably, USURPA, Africa’s first digital fine art gallery exhibited some of their works on cutting edge Samsung screens. Artists explored the intersection of tradition and modernity through vibrant 3D animations and AI-generated visuals, reflecting Africa’s unique ability to simultaneously embrace tradition and Afrofuturism.
A standout event of Fak’ugesi 2024 was its annual Fak’ugesi Awards Ceremony, which brought together developers, designers and innovators to celebrate their roles in addressing pressing challenges facing Africa. Winners from across the skills spectrum (ranging from postgraduate learners to professional game and design studios) were awarded for their maverick impacts in their industries. Notable winners include Zamia: Memories of the Swahili Coast by Gwamaka Mwabuka in the Virtual Reality category, and Kizazi Moto by Triggerfish and the Walt Disney Company for Best Feature-length film. This year’s hackathon, which precedes the Awards Ceremony, also showcased the innovative potential of Africa’s tech community, proving that the continent is a key player in the global landscape.
In addition to the creative showcases, Fak’ugesi 2024 featured keynote speeches and panel discussions with industry leaders from across Africa and the globe. Representatives from major tech companies such as Ale de la Puente from Studio Quantum (Mexico), and Daniel Getachew Molla (Malawi), participated in discussions on artificial intelligence, and how Africa’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem is shaping the global digital economy. These sessions provided invaluable insights into the trends and challenges facing the industry, while highlighting the role that African innovators are playing on the world stage.
Collaboration was a key theme throughout the festival. Fak’ugesi facilitated partnerships between African universities, tech startups, and art collectives, fostering innovation that crossed industries and disciplines. These collaborations are expected to continue beyond the festival, leading to new projects that blend technology with African cultural heritage in ways that can influence both local and international audiences.
Fak’ugesi has consistently positioned itself as more than just a showcase for art and technology; it is a platform for redefining global perceptions of Africa’s role in the creative and tech industries. By showcasing African talent and innovation, the festival challenges stereotypes and emphasises the continent’s role as an active contributor to the global creative economy. This year’s edition saw a record number of international attendees, underlining the growing recognition of Africa’s contributions to digital culture and innovation.
As the 2024 festival comes to a close, the excitement surrounding Africa’s digital creative potential is far from over. The momentum generated by this year’s edition will undoubtedly influence tech and creative industries across the continent for years to come. Fak’ugesi has sparked vital conversations about the role of African creators in shaping the future of digital culture, and the legacy of this year’s festival will continue to resonate long after the event.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Fak’ugesi team is already planning new immersive experiences, innovative collaborations, and groundbreaking projects that will further position Africa as a leader in the global digital creativity landscape.
