Africa’s $1.8B Gaming Boom: Growing Six Times Faster Than The Global Average - Kaya Biz

Loading player...
Guest – Raymond Ledwaba – founder of ITTHYNK Gaming and the AfriGames Consortium

Africa’s gaming industry isn’t emerging, it’s exploding. In 2024 the market generated $1.8 billion in revenue, a 12.4% year-on-year increase, growing six times faster than the global average. With 349 million gamers across the continent (304 million on mobile alone), Africa added 32 million new players in just one year.

Mobile gaming already accounts for nearly 90% of the market, creating massive opportunities for developers, investors, and SMEs. Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa lead in revenue, but the fastest growth is happening in unexpected markets like Eritrea and Niger. This isn’t just entertainment. It’s a business revolution.

And yet, at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, the world’s biggest gaming expo, Africa had no national pavilion. Countries from Brazil to Thailand showcased their ecosystems. Africa’s absence is both a gap and an opportunity.
30 Jan English South Africa Business

Other recent episodes

Forestry as a Path to Rural Wealth

Sappi’s Sandile Nkosi explains how the Khulisa programme is turning small‑scale growers into skilled entrepreneurs. He shares insights on job creation, training, and the long‑term economic impact of a forestry value chain.
22 Apr 14 min

How Private Equity Is Building Inclusive SMMEs

Millions of middle‑income South Africans use financial products but lack personalised financial guidance. Summit Africa’s Nthabiseng Thema explains why this gap is a multibillion‑rand opportunity, and what SMMEs looking to harness this must demonstrate to attract investment.
15 Apr 20 min

How small steps build big businesses

In an economic environment where many businesses are chasing disruption, Graham Mitchell’s message is almost counterintuitive. After working with more than 180 South African companies with combined revenues exceeding R15 billion, Mitchell argues that the real driver of sustainable business growth is not innovation alone, but disciplined execution. He joins…
4 Mar 13 min

SMEs, Budget 2026 and Black Business Participation

Black Business Council CEO Kganki Matabane unpacks what Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget means for businesses by focusing on practical impacts, including tax pressure, SME support, procurement access, and whether fiscal policy truly improves the operating environment for black and small businesses.
24 Feb 4 min