Preserving African History Through Gaming Innovation
The Goethe-Institut Nigeria, in collaboration with Africacomicade, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Games Connect Africa, and the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Echoes Game Jam. This groundbreaking initiative, part of the Goethe-Institut’s Dreaming New Worlds project, aims to empower African digital creatives to preserve and promote the continent’s rich cultural heritage through interactive media.
A Platform for Creativity and Cultural Preservation
The Echoes Game Jam is a transformative platform designed to nurture African talent in the video games, immersive, and interactive media industries. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and pan-African co-creation, the initiative encourages participants to explore their histories and develop scalable, engaging solutions for cultural preservation. Through this project, African creatives will use cutting-edge technology to reimagine storytelling and create interactive experiences that celebrate Africa’s diverse heritage.
The Jam officially commenced on March 4, 2025, with an onboarding session held at the Africacomicade office in Yaba, Lagos followed by a guided tour of the National Museum, Lagos, on March 7, 2025 for selected Lagos-based creatives. This tour provided participants with firsthand exposure to the museum’s cultural artifacts and stories, offering inspiration for their projects.
The Journey Begins: Onboarding & Museum Visit
With over 100 creatives from 7 African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, and Cameroon — the Echoes Game Jam is a truly pan-African endeavor. The Jam will run for two weeks, from March 10 to March 23, 2025, culminating in a judging process by a panel of experts. Winners will be announced on March 28, 2025, and will receive financial awards from a £1,500 prize pool. Additionally, their projects will be installed in the National Museum, Lagos, and the winning teams will be sponsored to attend Lagos Week in June 2025, where they will showcase and discuss their work.
The Echoes Game Jam is spearheaded by the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, a longstanding supporter of Africa’s creative and cultural industries. Known for promoting cultural exchange and preservation, Goethe-Institut continues to empower African digital creatives to address social issues through innovative problem-solving.
Africacomicade is a technical partner on the project, providing community engagement and technical support, while other partner organizations contribute training, mentorship, and logistical expertise. Together, these collaborations create a robust ecosystem that enables participants to access resources, learn from industry leaders, and bring their creative visions to life.
A Truly Pan-African Game Jam
By blending technology with storytelling, the Echoes Game Jam is amplifying African voices in the global gaming industry. This initiative not only celebrates Africa’s cultural heritage but also equips creatives with the tools to innovate and inspire. It is a bold step toward building a community of African creators who seamlessly blend culture with cutting-edge technology.
For more information about the Echoes Game Jam, please visit https://www.goethe.de/ins/ng/en/kul/sup/co9/echoes-game-jam.html or contact people@africacomicade.org.
