Digital Lab Africa (DLA), a springboard and incubation platform for African creatives in digital content, announced the nine winners of its fourth edition during an online conference on 19 June, organised as part of the virtual 2020 Annecy Festival.

Choosing from more than 500 applications from 32 countries, the esteemed jury based its selection on artistic, technical and financial criteria in the five key categories: immersive realities, video games, music, animation and digital art. Selected applicants will be given a DLA Incubation Pass to fast track the development of their project. Alongside mentorship and training sessions, the DLA #4 winners will also be hosted in planned residencies in the relevant category ecosystems.

Tegan Bristow, director of the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival and member of the jury noted: “Most of the applicants’ projects this year were both very high level and very creative. They reflect the vitality and uniqueness of the African continent in the field of digital cultures and new technologies.”

“Participating in the DLA jury was a wonderful experience", said Mounia Aram, Creative Entrepreneur and juror in the Animation category. "I am really proud to have joined the DLA ecosystem which now brings together a large community made up of experts, partners, mentors, and alumni. More than a program, Digital Lab Africa is positioning itself today as a real central and essential platform at the intersection of cultural and creative industries and digital economy in sub-Saharan Africa.”

The program, created four years ago by the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS), and run by South African technology hub Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) had to adapt due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown. While the call for applications ran smoothly, the residence times and participation in professional highlights earned by the winners were either postponed or transformed into virtual sessions.

Lesley Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Precinct, saw an opportunity to adapt the programs and activities of the incubator to better support entrepreneurs: "The brutal stopping of the economy and the lockdown experienced by a large part of people across the globe has shown to the world the importance for online platforms and content. Today, the reinvention of artistic forms, and of economic models of the cultural sector through digital and new technologies is essential. Digital Lab Africa is certainly one of the best platforms to stimulate and support the future players in this digital-cultural revolution in Africa. Hence, I am delighted that this 4th edition could be maintained, and I congratulate the winners who are joining the great family of DLA.”

And the DLA#4 winners are:

Animation category:

- Bokang Koatja (South Africa) / « Mannerisms »

- Natasha Nayo (Ghana) / « Message beats »

- Ridwan Moshood (Nigeria) / « In my hood »

Video game category:

- Robert Mensah (Nigeria) / « Outcome »

- Tristan Mocke (South Africa) / « Qyn »

Immersive realities category:

- Melisa Allela (Kenya) / « Sigana: Tales of Lawino »

- Joey Ekunwe (Nigeria) / « The slavery of science »

Music category:

- Sizo Hlophe (E-Swatini) / « Antidote music »

Digital art category:

- Lara Sousa (Mozambique) / « Katalina / Kalunga /Karonga - Sea Waved Tales »

IMAGES OF THE WINNERS: Google Drive - DLA Winners

VIDEOS: Google Drive - Winner reaction videos

About Digital Lab Africa:

Created in 2016, Digital Lab Africa is an initiative of the French Institute and the French Embassy in South Africa, managed by the South African innovation hub Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct since 2018.

Digital Lab Africa (DLA) is the first platform dedicated to creative content (immersive realities, video game, animation, music, digital art) linked with innovation in Africa. The very idea of DLA is to incubate emerging talent by offering them a springboard to fast track their projects development with the support and expertise of DLA creative industries ecosystem in France and in Sub-Saharan African countries.

https://digilabafrica.com/

About Tshimologong Precinct:

The Tshimologong Precinct, founded by Wits University is a true "Silicon Valley" in Johannesburg that aims to realise African digital innovation for global markets. Its ecosystem propels entrepreneurship and grows the skills pipeline for the digital economy through collaboration with academia, corporates, government and entrepreneurs.

Driven by common goals, including the desire to combine technology, innovation and creative content, Tshimologong and the French Embassy in South Africa have joined forces to create a Digital Content Hub (DCH) - and integrate and sustain the existing Digital Lab Africa Programme – the first support programming for the production of digital content across sub-Saharan Africa initiated in 2016 by the French Embassy in South Africa. The DCH is the first project from cultural industries in Africa to have obtained funding from the Agence française de développement (AFD) since the extension of their mandate to these sectors.

https://tshimologong.joburg/

FYI - Members of the selection committee:

Animation category:

- Mounia Aram / Mounia Aram Company (France)

- Olivier Catherin (France)

- Eric Reginaud / Ciclic (France)

- Lesego Vorster / Hidden Hand Studios (South Africa)

Video game category:

- Hugo Obi (Nigeria)

- Francis Ingrand / SNJV / Plug In Digital (France)

- Nicholas Hall / Make Games SA / IESA (South Africa)

Immersive realities category:

- Kirstin Lee Grey / Electric South (South Africa)

- Michael / NewImages Festival (France)

- Bruno Masi / INA (France)

Music category:

- Claire Métais / Music in Africa (South Africa)

- Thibaut Mullings / IDOL (South Africa)

- Pierre- Marie Oullion / Arty Farty (France)

Digital art category:

- Oulimata Gueye (France)

- Tegan Bristow / Fak’ugesi Festival (South Africa)

- Bénédicte Alliot / Cité internationale des arts (France)

Africa Team