Calling Malawi’s Next Game Developers
Applications Open: Nyenyezi Fellowship — Game Development Edition
The Kwathu Kollective is launching a new opportunity for young creatives, technologists, storytellers, artists, and aspiring developers across Malawi to help build the country’s first commercial video game.
Through the Nyenyezi Fellowship – Game Development Edition, selected fellows will work alongside the Kwathu team during the 2026 Xbox Game Camp Africa in contributing to the development of Kwathu Smart Innovation Farms [KSIF] — an immersive simulation game exploring agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, innovation, and African futures through interactive storytelling and gameplay.
This 12-week immersive fellowship is designed to expose young Malawians to the growing global games industry while helping build real products with real-world impact.
What Fellows Will Experience
Participants will gain exposure to different areas of game development and digital production, including:
- Game design and systems thinking
- Storytelling and worldbuilding
- Environment and character design
- Unreal Engine workflows
- Simulation and interactive experiences
- UI/UX and digital creativity
- Audio, narrative, and immersive media
- Collaborative production pipelines
Fellows will also receive mentorship and exposure connected to the broader gaming ecosystem through initiatives such as Xbox Game Camp Africa.
Fellowship Details
- Duration: 12 Weeks [14th September, 2026 – 4th December, 2026]
- Eligibility: Ages 13–35
- Location: Malawi [hybrid opportunities may apply depending on role]
- Experience Level: Beginners welcome
- Women strongly encouraged to apply
- Familiarity with Unreal Engine or game tools is an advantage, but not required.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for curious, creative, and motivated young people interested in shaping the future of African digital experiences.
This includes:
- Artists and illustrators
- Programmers and developers
- Writers and storytellers
- Animators and designers
- Gamers interested in production
- Students exploring digital careers
- Young innovators interested in technology and immersive systems
Whether you are already building projects or simply passionate about learning, we encourage you to apply.
Why Get Skills in Game Development Now?
The global gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing creative and technology sectors in the world. It is also the most lucrative media industry, as gaming outearns all the entertainment industries combined.
Yet African stories, systems, environments, and perspectives remain deeply underrepresented in interactive media.
The Nyenyezi Fellowship is part of a broader effort by Kwathu Kollective to help build local creative and technical capacity while opening pathways for young Africans into emerging digital industries.
KSIF represents more than a game. It is an experiment in simulation, storytelling, education, and systems innovation rooted in African realities.
Applications
Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare:
- A short introduction about yourself
- Examples of creative or technical work [optional]
- A brief explanation of why you want to join the fellowship
Apply Here
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programmes / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact us via kollective@kwathu.org.
To keep up with the work of the Kwathu Kollective, our initiatives and our projects, follow us on socia media:
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