Wayne Tabaka Ndebele, a talented 2D animator from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is preparing for one of the most significant milestones in his creative journey. As the founder of Left Hand Animation, Ndebele has long been committed to promoting African storytelling through animation that celebrates culture, heritage, and innovation.

Ndebele has been selected to attend the Création Africa Forum 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, a prestigious cultural and creative industries event supported by the French government and other international partners. The forum, taking place from October 16–18, 2025, brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural experts from across Africa and beyond to explore opportunities in the creative economy.

For Ndebele, this platform represents a chance to network with global industry leaders, learn strategies for monetising creative content, and showcase Zimbabwean animation to a wider audience.

Often described as creating “Afrocentric anime,” Ndebele’s style blends Japanese anime influences with African cultural motifs, resulting in vibrant, emotionally rich storytelling. His works include A Hero’s Legacy, a local story featured on his YouTube channel, Left Hand Animation, and Lost in Translation, an educational series introducing audiences to French culture and language through animation.

Ndebele’s growing list of achievements includes participating in the Ultimate Battlerivalskool Africa 2025 in Johannesburg, where he earned awards for his outstanding animation skills. He has also exhibited his Virtual Reality (VR) project at both the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and Texpo, drawing praise from the French Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Paul-Bertrand Barets.

He credits the Alliance Française de Bulawayo for nurturing his artistic growth and supporting his journey onto the global stage.

Driven by a passion for inspiring young African artists and advancing African storytelling through animation, Ndebele sees the Création Africa Forum as a pivotal opportunity to elevate his craft.

“This is more than just a career milestone — it’s a chance to show the world that African animation has limitless potential,” he said.

With his participation in the Création Africa Forum 2025, Wayne Ndebele stands ready to showcase the creativity, resilience, and innovation that define a new generation of African storytellers.