"True innovation lives where our cultural roots fuel technological progress." — Nqobizitha Mlilo, Creative Technologist & Founder

Nafuna Africa was born from a radical vision: to prove that African storytelling could lead digital innovation. In 2012, animation veteran Nqobizitha Mlilo returned home to Harare from Rwanda with a conviction that Africa's greatest competitive advantage isn't mimicking Western creative models but rather leveraging our unique cultural assets—storytelling traditions passed down through generations, visual aesthetics rooted in African & Zimbabwean art forms, and narrative sensibilities shaped by lived African experience.

What began as a modest production house creating campaign videos for NGOs has evolved into a multidisciplinary creative technology studio rewriting the rules of cultural storytelling. We've moved beyond the traditional creative agency model to become a technology lab where ancient wisdom informs modern innovation.

2012-2016: The Storytelling Era

We built our foundation by crafting 200+ video campaigns for development organizations, NGOs, and corporate clients. This era taught us the power of narrative to drive behavior change and business outcomes. We learned that great storytelling isn't about flashy production value but rather authentic connection to audience values and aspirations.

2017-2020: The Systems Era

We became Zimbabwe's first truly integrated creative agency, blending strategic consulting with in-house execution across animation, video production, web development, and brand strategy. Rather than outsourcing components, we controlled the entire value chain—enabling seamless collaboration and faster iteration. This era established our reputation for quality and reliability, earning a 97% client retention rate since 2015.

2021-Present: The Technology Era

The pandemic accelerated our evolution into a creative technology lab. We invested heavily in automation, AI integration, and generative media systems. We mastered Godot Engine for interactive game development, built custom production automation using SvelteKit and n8n, and began experimenting with AI-enhanced storytelling that respects cultural context while expanding creative possibilities. This era transforms us from a services company into a technology company with significant scaling potential.

Nafuna Agency – World-class creative services covering digital strategy, animation, game design, web development, video production, and AI automation. We deliver cultural-technology solutions that drive business outcomes while maintaining authentic African storytelling.

Nafuna Campus – Vocational training programs that have educated 150+ Zimbabwe creative professionals since 2012. Our year-long programs and intensive bootcamps equip the next generation with technical mastery and cultural grounding, building a sustainable talent pipeline for Africa's growing creative economy.

Nafuna Avenues – Our flagship transmedia project that transforms the beloved Angry Mwana franchise into a mobile game and animated series designed to teach African languages and preserve cultural heritage. Nafuna Avenues proves that cultural preservation and entertainment can align with technology scaling and global reach.