The Alliance Française de Bulawayo will host Frames of Africa on the 6th of June, an event curated in collaboration with internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean animator Wayne Ndebele.

Speaking to My Afrika Magazine, Ndebele said the event is dedicated to celebrating Africa’s animation industry and its rich storytelling tradition.

“Frames of Africa is a celebration of local anime. This event is a tribute to African storytelling—blending unique cultural narratives with stunning animation to celebrate our heritage in a modern light,” he said.

Ndebele acknowledged the growing popularity of animation in Zimbabwe, crediting platforms like Comeexposed and Animaniac Zimbabwe for playing key roles in nurturing the artform. He also announced that he will be co-exhibiting alongside fellow international animator Mbongeni Wiseman Dube.

“We are seeking to create a community that is built upon an appreciation of locally created anime,” said Ndebele.

The event will feature free screenings and exhibitions by Bulawayo-based animators eager to showcase their work to the public. “We are doing free screenings of animation created by animators in Bulawayo during the event—those who would like to exhibit and be part of our community,” he added.

In an exciting reveal, Ndebele shared that Frames of Africa will also premiere an Afrocentric film currently in production.

“We are also working on a new film that is Afrocentric in nature and authentic to our roots as African animators. A lot of our stories and culture are reflected in popular Japanese animes such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Mashle, and Black Clover—we often don’t realise that these are stories relatable to the African experience and ‘African science’,” he said.

The unveiling is scheduled for 6th June at 5:00 p.m. at Alliance Française de Bulawayo. “Don’t be late,” Ndebele encouraged.