Ghana Joins the Global Digital Culture Conversation at Novembre Numérique 2025
For the first time in Ghana, Alliance Française Accra hosted Novembre Numérique, the global festival of digital culture initiated by the Institut français and celebrated in more than 70 countries and 130 cities worldwide. Over three days, the festival brought together digital creators, technologists, artists, and audiences exploring the evolving intersection of culture and technology.
Co-produced by Leti Arts and Alliance Française Accra, with support from Creation Africa Ghana, the inaugural Ghanaian edition ran from November 5 to 7, 2025, and brought together immersive experiences, hands-on workshops, and cross-continental dialogue around two themes shaping the future of creative industries globally: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Heritage.
Day One: Launching a Conversation
The festival opened with an Industry and Launch Experience, anchored by keynote remarks from Hélène Geneau-Okutue, Director of Alliance Française Accra, and Eyram Tawia, Co-Founder and CEO of Leti Arts.
The afternoon expanded into an immersive showcase across the outdoor spaces of Alliance Française Accra. Visitors explored VR and XR installations, gaming demonstrations, artist booths, partner exhibitions, and networking sessions, offering an early glimpse into the creative technology ecosystem the festival set out to highlight.
Day Two: Building Skills for an Immersive Future
The second day focused on hands-on learning, with four workshops running across two rooms throughout the day. Participants explored topics including the fundamentals of Unity for immersive 3D environments, spatial sound design for VR storytelling, responsible AI and open data practices, and interactive writing for XR narratives.
Facilitators from Ghana and Israel led the sessions, while an open experience space remained active throughout the day. The area featured a Gaming and Esports Arena, a Digital Cinema Lounge, a VR Gallery, and a Matchmaking and Networking Lounge, creating opportunities for participants to experiment with emerging tools and connect with fellow creators.
Day Three: Africa’s Immersive Voices Take the Stage
The festival closed with a Co-Production Showcase at La Paillote, where creators from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, France, and Israel presented immersive projects exploring themes of identity, ecology, and digital culture.
The works ranged from Afrofuturist reflections on ancestral identity to immersive narratives addressing indigenous ecology and the environmental impact of electronic waste. Among the highlights was the launch premiere of Dobiison 360, a 360-degree storytelling experience on West African identity and cultural travel, presented by its founder Selasie Awity.
The evening continued with a panel discussion titled “Immersive Futures: A Post-Creation Africa Forum Dialogue on Emerging Immersive Tech Trends and Innovations.” Building on conversations first initiated at the Creation Africa Forum in Lagos, organized by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and curated by Maison des Mondes Africains (MansA), the session brought together experts in VR, XR, and gaming from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and France.
Panelists included Emmanuel Rukundo, Co-founder of Keepers XR (Uganda); Brian Afande, CEO of Black Rhino (Kenya); Agata Di Tommaso, Festival Manager of Diversion Cinema (France); Selasie Awity, CEO of Dobiison (Ghana); and Eyram Tawia, CEO of Leti Arts (Ghana). The discussion was moderated by Erskine Whyte, Programs Manager at Y107.9 FM, who also participated in the Lagos forum.
Ghana’s Place in a Global Movement
Since its launch in 2017, Novembre Numérique has grown into one of the world’s most expansive celebrations of digital culture, spanning immersive experiences, video games, digital arts, podcasts, and innovative publishing.
With its first edition, Novembre Numérique Accra placed Ghanaian creators inside a global conversation on digital culture, where artists, technologists, and storytellers are redefining how stories are imagined, told, and experienced.