3 minute read
Championing female talent in AFRICAN GAMING
Esports has evolved into more than just a competitive gaming scene. It’s become a cultural revolution. What began as multiplayer video games played for spectators has now woven itself into the fabric of global pop culture, inspiring everything from music and fashion to film. Africa, with its rapidly growing gaming scene, is emerging as the next frontier for esports.
Top Namibian player, Asante-Sana Maruwasa, known in the esports world as ATMBYTES, is a rising star. She recently showcased her exceptional skills at one of Africa’s most prestigious gaming events: the rAge Expo in Johannesburg. As part of the Mzansi Esports Champions, she helped shine a well-deserved spotlight on female gamers from across Africa, including several rising stars from southern Africa.
Asante-Sana was one of eight top-tier players chosen to represent southern Africa in the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to empowering women in the gaming industry.
Empowering women in gaming
More than just a competition, the Mzansi Esports Champions highlights the intersection between gaming and entrepreneurship, encouraging women to explore opportunities within the esports ecosystem. While players like Asante-Sana battled it out in Tekken 7, the event also served as a platform for discussions on female entrepreneurship in esports.
Representatives from the Services for Africa Gaming & Esports (SAGES) Africa, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), and rAge Expo joined forces to enhance the continent’s gaming ecosystem, offering a unique space for networking, collaboration, and career advancement for women in the industry.
The event reflects SAGES Africa's commitment to empowering women and creating avenues for African gamers to succeed on the global stage. Through initiatives like the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, SAGES Africa aims to promote inclusivity in esports, ensuring that African women receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
A vision for the future
While esports continues to grow globally, the industry remains largely male-dominated. For Namibia, and the African continent, initiatives like the Mzansi Esports Champions are paving the way for greater female representation in a field where women are often underrepresented, ensuring women have a seat at the table in an industry with enormous potential.
Esports is becoming an integral part of mainstream culture, and in Africa, the future looks especially bright. “We are witnessing a cultural shift in esports,” says Désiré Koussawo, President of SAGES Africa. “The industry offers an exciting opportunity to not only showcase African talent but to also empower women. This is just the beginning, and Africa is set to be a key player in the global esports ecosystem.”
This fast-growing sector, with its significant cultural impact, has the potential to foster a more inclusive and dynamic esports scene in Africa, where talent knows no gender.
- Kirsty Watermeyer
