Ep 8 – Identity, Creativity and Building Games from the Heart of Africa with Homolang “Nathi” Marule

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Press Start Mzansi

Bandile Phuthuma

8 episodes

1 week ago

Press Start Mzansi is the podcast where innovation, policy, business, and play meet to explore the future of gaming in South Africa and across the continent. Each episode features in-depth conversations with game developers, investors, government leaders, and creative entrepreneurs who are shaping Africa’s digital creative economy. We unpack how gaming is driving youth employment, digital transformation, local storytelling, and inclusive growth and why it matters now more than ever. Let’s press start on the future of African games. #GamingForGood #PressStartMzansi

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Video Games

Leisure

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Ep 8 – Identity, Creativity and Building Games from the Heart of Africa with Homolang “Nathi” Marule

Press Start Mzansi

51 minutes 51 seconds

1 week ago

Ep 8 – Identity, Creativity and Building Games from the Heart of Africa with Homolang “Nathi” Marule

Ep 8 – Identity, Creativity and Building Games from the Heart of Africa with Homolang “Nathi” Marule

In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Homolang “Nathi” Marule, founder and CEO of Atrybute Studios, to explore how imagination, spirituality, and technology intersect in African game development.

From drawing robots and sharks in preschool to leading a creative studio today, Nathi’s story is one of perseverance, curiosity, and deep reflection. He describes himself as a modern African child — someone navigating tradition, spirituality, global culture, and innovation. His games and creative philosophy blend the ancestral and the futuristic, offering players not just entertainment but meaning.

Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma and Kieran Reid, this conversation delves into how personal identity, culture, and storytelling shape the next generation of African creators. Nathi’s journey reminds us that building games is not just about code or design — it is about crafting experiences that connect people to who they are and who they can become.

• The poetic beginnings of creativity and storytelling in Polokwane
• Early encounters with computers, arcades, and discovering God of War
• Choosing art over engineering and the power of having supportive mentors
• From student to studio founder — finding purpose through leadership
• Defining the “modern African child” and bringing spirituality into design
• The balance between creativity, business, and community in Atrybute Studios
• What leadership means in the creative economy
• Advice for young artists and dreamers starting in townships and small towns
• The mission and future of Atrybute Studios

Homolang “Nathi” Marule is a technical artist, storyteller, and the founder of Atrybute Studios, a South African game development company exploring African creativity through technology. His journey began with art, computers, and a love of games that evolved into a career focused on merging imagination and entrepreneurship.

Describing himself as a modern African child, Nathi’s work is inspired by spirituality, biology, and mythology, drawing from both ancestral wisdom and contemporary innovation. Through Atrybute, he champions a creative future that celebrates identity, community, and purpose.

Follow his work at Atrybute.co.za and on Instagram @homolangnathi and @atrybutegraphics.

Hosted by: Bandile Phuthuma (ITTHYNK Gaming)
Co-host: Kieran Reid (Two Name Games)
Guest: Homolang “Nathi” Marule (CEO, Atrybute Studios)
Technical Director: Dave Moyo
Marketing: Jessica Jardim, Ashley Tanton, Padi Falas-Maifala, Mpho Tlokotsi

Press Start Mzansi is the podcast where innovation, creativity, and play come together to explore the people and ideas shaping Africa’s digital future.

Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow @PressStartMzansi for more conversations with the voices defining the next chapter of African gaming.