The last couple of years have seen abundant buzz about the African video gaming industry. International media have been paying attention to Africa’s pioneering game developers. As the African middle class grows and smartphone use soars, the market for mobile games and apps is growing across the continent. Local startups are expanding and diversifying.

Nigeria’s Kuluya, which means ‘action’ in Igbo language from northern Nigeria, is one of the emerging gaming companies on the continent and is estimated to be worth more that $2 million after producing 70 new African games in just 18 month after it was set up. The firm started with just $50,000 initial capital and now employs about a dozen people.

“Sometimes we also look at games that are very popular across the world and say okay look at this game why is it popular. We try to learn from it and see how we can apply that in our games or even do an African version of that same game,” Kunle Ogungbamila, the head at Kuluya gaming company, tolf AFP.