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Decolonizing Play and the Rise of African Game Development (2013-2026)

Eyram Tawia (CEO and Co-Founder, Leti Arts)

Location: Room 3002, West Hall

Date: Wednesday, March 11

Time: 11:50 am - 12:20 pm

Pass Type: Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass - Get your pass now!

Audience Level: Entry-Level

Track: Culture & Sustainability

Format: Lecture

Vault Recording: Video

Audience Level: Entry-Level

Eyram Tawia

Eyram Tawia returns to GDC with a powerful update on the African games industry's growth and transformation since his landmark 2013 talk. Drawing on over a decade of studio leadership, teaching, and research, Tawia explores how African creators are redefining game narratives, partnerships, and education—fulfilling and challenging earlier predictions. This session dives into concrete successes, ongoing challenges, and the meaning of "decolonizing play" in a global industry. Attendees will gain practical strategies from African studios' experiences, insights into new talent pipelines, and a candid look at the future of collaboration between the continent and the world. Essential for anyone interested in global markets, diversity, and new creative frontiers.

Takeaway

Attendees will gain real-world strategies for fostering meaningful partnerships, developing locally relevant content, and navigating the complex realities of IP, ownership, and representation in emerging markets—plus fresh insight into how "decolonizing play" can drive innovation, new business, and talent growth for the global games industry.

Intended Audience

This session benefits game developers, producers, publishers, educators, and industry leaders interested in global expansion, diversity, or working with emerging markets. No specialized knowledge is required—just curiosity and openness to new ways of making, teaching, and thinking about games. The talk offers value across disciplines and company sizes.