Stage to Sandbox, Alby Michaels, Building Africa’s Leading Digital Festival

Decentralising the festival, centering African immersive work, and building a sustainable ecosystem – one hard decision at a time.

In this episode, Alby Michaels walks us through his journey — from theatre-maker to director of a major African digital-innovation festival, Fak’ugesi Festival. He explains how the festival has evolved to spotlight immersive African storytelling, digital art, VR/XR, gaming and animation.

A key theme: the festival isn’t just about shows — it tries to act as an incubator, accelerator and marketplace for African creators. The 2025 edition emphasizes “immersion, ancestral intelligence, data sovereignty, and African-centered narratives.”

Alby also tackles the harsh realities: funding cuts, lack of infrastructure, and the challenge of sustaining creative tech work in Africa. He argues that adding a commercial/market layer (trade-floor + festival) is vital to long-term sustainability of creative ecosystems.

The conversation ends on a hopeful note: the festival aims to build a continental network and repository of African immersive works, giving creators visibility and a platform to thrive beyond just one show.