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Gaming is increasingly popular in Africa, with roughly 40% of South Africans having played some kind of online or video game, according to a new PwC report. This figure is at 23% in Nigeria and 22% in Kenya.

The gaming sector has shown strong growth in the post-pandemic era, with revenues in South Africa hitting $327 million in 2021, compared to $262.4 million the previous year. In Nigeria, they rose to $271 million from $200 million, and in Kenya to $125 million from $111 million.

The biggest driver of this growth is increasing smartphone penetration and internet access, as the majority of African gamers play on their mobile devices sincePCs and consoles are generally more expensive and harder to access. The commercial rollout of 5G in several African markets is set to fuel further growth.

The larger gaming ecosystem in Africa is also expanding, thanks to greater collaboration and investment in recent years. More game developers, studios, esports players, and tournaments are emerging across the continent, helping to drive interest. For instance, Mekan Games, a Kenyan game development studio founded by Evan Kiragu, made history this year when its game Mr President topped global games charts on both Android and Apple stores, earning the studio over $1 million. The quirky game allows you to play a fictional leader and make…