Madagascar’s Manuela wins first African Swahili e-sports event
Tsiaro Manuela from Madagascar won the first African Female Swahili e-sports Championships which was held at the Sarit Center Expo in Nairobi.
The groundbreaking event, a first of its kind in Africa was graciously hosted by NAICCON.
The competition attracted eight competitors from various African countries including Benin, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Kenya.
TEKKEN was the chosen battleground, and the intensity of the battles underscored the burgeoning talent in the African esports scene.
Manuela secured the top spot, clinching a well-deserved cash prize of $1000 followed by Queen Arrow closely with a noteworthy performance, earning a cash prize of $500, Feble and Black Angel showcased their prowess, walking away with $300 and $200, respectively.
The event was graced by CS Sports and Culture Ababu Namwamba and Desire Koussawo, President of France Esports and Founder of SAGES among other dignitaries.
Namwamba emphasized the need for the country to explore the creative economy to create opportunities for young people. “This burgeoning economy could become a critical contributor to Kenya’s GDP. The nation is headed in the right direction with partners like the French Institute and NAICCON,” he said.
On his part, Koussawo expressed excitement about the just concluded tournament which was held on November 18 and 19 reiterating the commitment of the French embassy to support e-sports in Kenya.
NAICCON, a platform for African creatives in the digital arts, collaborated with the Swahili Esports Champions 2023 to empower and showcase the untapped potential of female e-sports players in Africa. Ann Ndanu, Co-Founder of NAICCON, highlighted the tournament’s success, with over 2500 Kenyan gamers, animators, and gaming creators in attendance over the two-day exhibition.
The Swahili E-sports Champions 2023 aims to stimulate entrepreneurship within the e-sports scene, specifically emphasizing female entrepreneurship in gaming across the continent.
The event, held in partnership with NAICCON, provided a space for female gamers to shine, fostering meaningful conversations about the growth of the e-sports industry in Kenya and beyond.
In addition to the TEKKEN competition, the NAICCON Convention dedicated a day to insightful discussions and professional meetings focused on the burgeoning e-sports sector in Africa.
The event featured distinguished guests from various sectors of the e-sports ecosystem, fostering a comprehensive dialogue on the challenges, successes, and prospects of female entrepreneurship in the African e-sports landscape.
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