Arts and Creative Industries / Gaming / Mzansi Esports Champions 2024: Celebrating women’s talent in African esports

Mzansi Esports Champions 2024: Celebrating women’s talent in African esports

Arts and Creative Industries
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27 November

African women esports players will take center stage at the 2024 Mzansi Esports Champions, one of the continent’s premier gaming events, held at the rAge Expo in Johannesburg from 29 November to 1 December 2024.

Organised by SAGES Africa (Services for Africa Gaming & Esports), the Mzansi Esports Champions is a key part of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, an innovative initiative which aims to spotlight and empower women’s talent in esports, promoting inclusivity and equality within the gaming industry.

The championship will feature eight players, each representing their respective countries, competing for a share of the $2,500 prize pool, with the winner taking home $1,000. Notable among the participants is Sylvia Gathoni Wahome, known as QueenArrow, a pioneering figure in esports and the godmother of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge.

The Mzansi Esports Champions at the rAge Expo will highlight the best women’s esports talent from across Southern Africa. The 2024 players are:

– eSwatini: Setsabile Shabangu, Sugar

– Kenya: Sylvia Wahome, QueenArrow

– Lesotho: Liteboho Thebe, EL

– Madagascar: Safidy Andrianisoa, Sentaku

– Malawi: Matimbe Gweyneth Edina, Gwyn Stacy

– Namibia: Asante-Sana Maruwasa, ATMBYTES

– South Africa: Zahraa Khan, Iron-Fist

– Zambia: Bwalia Nkumbula, LiaRose

In addition to the competition, the event will serve as a platform for discussions on women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment in gaming. A series of business meetings on 29 November will bring together African esports professionals, fostering collaboration and creating new opportunities for women in the gaming industry.

This is a unique chance for stakeholders in the African gaming and esports community to network, exchange ideas, and focus on developing entrepreneurial opportunities in a rapidly growing global industry. Guests will include esports organisations, gamers such as QueenArrow, and other industry experts.

The Mzansi Esports Champions event is part of a larger strategy by SAGES Africa to build a strong esports ecosystem across the continent. Through strategic partnerships, SAGES continues to empower African players and enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.

This project is a collaboration of the French Institute of South Africa, SAGES and rAge Expo. It is made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

See the full Mzansi Esports Champions schedule here.

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