In the bustling streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, a young black girl with a passion for coffee and a curious mind for technology has risen to prominence in the world of gaming. Meet Avuzwa Ntsongwa, the entrepreneur and a self-taught software developer.
Avuzwa Ntsongwa’s story is an inspiration to many, especially in a country where the tech industry is still largely dominated by men. Despite facing numerous obstacles, she persisted in pursuing her dreams and made a name for herself in the industry.
Avuzwa’s journey started when she was just a teenager. She always had a fascination with coffee and its ability to bring people together. She worked hard and saved every penny to open her own coffee shop. It wasn’t easy, but she persevered, and her shop soon became a popular destination for coffee lovers in the city before she closed it down due to the global pandemic that hit the face of the earth.
However, her curiosity and passion for technology did not end with her coffee shop. Avuzwa taught herself software development and started working on various projects in her free time. Her skills and dedication soon caught the attention of local tech companies, and she was invited to participate in a hackathon.
It was during this hackathon that Avuzwa met two other girls who shared her passion for gaming and technology. They immediately hit it off, and the three of them decided to form a gaming studio under a company they soon registered called South Game Studios to develop their first game.
Their game, called Sizwe, is a tribute to the nine different cultures of South Africa. It is an educational game that teaches gamers about the history, traditions, and customs of each culture. The game and the concept itself have opened up a lot of opportunities for the South Game Studios girls, the most recent being their Fakugesi hackathon win which was sponsored by Telkom and hosted at Tshimologong Digital Precinct.
The success of Sizwe was not only a testament to the talent and creativity of Avuzwa and her team but also to the importance of diversity and representation in the gaming industry. Avuzwa and her team proved that anyone, regardless of their background or gender, could make a significant impact in the industry.
Avuzwa’s story is a reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. With hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, anyone can achieve their goals. Her success is not only an inspiration to young black girls in South Africa but to aspiring entrepreneurs and developers all over the world.
