Wayne Tabaka Ndebele: Zimbabwean Animator Heads to Création Africa Forum 2025

Bulawayo-based 2D animator Wayne Tabaka Ndebele is steadily carving out a place for himself on the African creative map. From crafting captivating animations to sharing platforms with top industry players, he is proving that Zimbabwean talent deserves recognition on the global stage.

Fresh from showcasing his skills at the Ultimate Battlerivalskool Africa 2025 in Johannesburg this July, Ndebele has now secured a spot at the Création Africa Forum 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, scheduled for October 16 to 18, is one of the continent’s most prestigious gatherings of cultural and creative innovators.

At the forum, Ndebele will join more than 1 000 creatives from Africa and Europe, including animators, filmmakers, designers, and digital storytellers. The program will feature exhibitions, workshops, and discussions aimed at building a fairer and more inclusive creative economy for Africa.

For Ndebele, this is more than another career milestone. “I’m super excited to be going to Lagos for the forum. I never expected to travel and meet other like-minded animators, so this is not an opportunity I’ll take lightly. For me, it’s all about learning, understanding how to navigate our craft from world-leading experts in fields like animation, sound design, VR, AR, and webtoons,” he told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.

The Création Africa Forum was launched in Paris three years ago and is fast becoming the leading platform for Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) across Africa and its diaspora. It connects innovators in animation, gaming, immersive media, and digital fashion with global media giants such as Netflix, Cartoon Network, and Disney.

Ndebele views this exposure as a chance to grow both artistically and commercially. “One thing I want to learn is how to monetise my content. Without big streaming channels backing you, it feels impossible to make money from animation beyond events and merchandising. The pitching segment is what I’m after — learning how to present my stories so they can reach global platforms like Disney and Marvel,” he said.

He credits Alliance Française de Bulawayo for supporting his growth. “Alliance Française opened doors for me to travel and expand my mindset. Before I connected with them, I didn’t think a full-blown career in animation was possible. They genuinely support local artistes and push us onto global stages,” he said.

The Création Africa Forum is backed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, and curated by MansA. Its focus is on high-potential creative sectors such as immersive media, transmedia storytelling, and audiovisual creation. It is designed to strengthen ecosystems, promote co-productions, and amplify emerging African voices, while linking creative industries to investors and international markets.

Zimbabwe’s animation scene continues to grow, with local productions like Khuluza and One Family Can gaining audiences on national television. Ndebele’s participation in Lagos is another sign that Zimbabwean animators are finding pathways into global conversations, positioning themselves not only as storytellers but also as entrepreneurs in a rapidly evolving creative economy.