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About Nafuna Africa!
Since 2012, Nafuna Africa has evolved from Zimbabwe’s pioneering animation studio into a pan-African creative technology powerhouse. We merge ancestral storytelling traditions with modern tech stacks – automating production workflows through AI, scaling cultural IP via Godot-powered game design, and crafting strategic brand ecosystems rooted in African patterns. Recognized by Google and the National Arts Council, our work spans award-winning animations (Angry Mwana), automated explainer video systems, and AI tools preserving indigenous narratives.
Nafuna Africa: Where African Stories Meet Digital Innovation
Bridging Traditions and Technologies Since 2012
Our Origin Story
"True innovation lives where our cultural roots fuel technological progress"
- Nqobizitha Mlilo, Creative Technologist & Founder
Born from Harare's vibrant creative scene, Nafuna Africa began as a spark in 2012 when animation veteran Nqobizitha Mlilo returned home from Rwanda with a radical vision - to prove African storytelling could lead digital innovation. What started as a modest production house creating campaign videos has evolved into a pan-African creative technology studio rewriting the rules of cultural storytelling.
The Founder's Journey
Nqobizitha's path mirrors Africa's digital transformation:
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Shaped creative minds as ZIVA's 3D animation lecturer (2005-2010)
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Pioneered Zimbabwe's advertising revolution with MaIdeas (2007-2010)
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Launched Nafuna TV (2012) to empower NGOs through visual storytelling
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Made history in 2014 with Angry Mwana - Zimbabwe's first animated series
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Revolutionized talk shows through Google-recognized Tonight with Zororo
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Emerged from COVID lockdowns as a full-stack creative technologist
Our Evolution
2012-2016: The Storytelling Era
Crafted 200+ video campaigns for development organizations and corporates
2017-2020: The Systems Era
Became Zimbabwe's first integrated creative agency blending strategy with execution
2021-Present: The Technology Era
Morphed into a creative technology lab mastering:
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Interactive media development (Godot Engine)
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Automated production systems (SvelteKit + n8n)
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AI-enhanced cultural storytelling
Why We Exist
Africa suffers a $1.2B annual cultural IP leakage (UNESCO 2023). We're building the antidote - a homegrown ecosystem where:
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Ancient storytelling traditions inform modern UX design
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Local languages shape AI training datasets
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African patterns define digital interaction models
Our Proof Points
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18 industry awards including Google Africa Connected Winner
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97% client retention rate since 2015
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400+ projects delivered across 12 African nations
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Trained 150+ creatives through our emerging talent pipeline
The Road Ahead
We're engineering Africa's creative future through:
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Automated Story Systems (2025) - AI that respects cultural context
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Generative Media Platforms (2026) - Local-language content engines
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Creative Tech Education (2027) - Africa's first animation-to-AI curriculum
Meet the Architects
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Our 15-member collective of:
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Griot-trained narrative designers
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Silicon Valley-grade developers
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Ubuntu philosophy-driven strategists
Working from Harare, Lagos, and Cape Town hubs