"It felt a bit lonely in these spaces," says Ritalucia, a Ghanaian-Nigerian avid gamer and content creator building an enviable fan base on live streaming service, Twitch. "But as I found more female gamers with similar experiences, I started feeling safer."
In recent years, Ghana has seen an upturn in its population of gamers and gaming communities, particularly in the capital city, Accra. Statista suggests that about 4.5% of the world's gamers reside in sub-Saharan Africa. And according to Esports analytics leader, Newzoo, Ghana accounts for 27% of those active players, making it the continent's second-highest per-capita gaming population in 2021. Aspiring professional gamers and Esports champions alike are making strides in joining the billion-dollar global E-gaming market. You may find them in the dimly lit rooms at Yetra E-Blue Esports Stadium and Arena 233 competing at tournaments and fostering offline communities, or catch them online on Discord servers.
Amongst these players in Ghana are young women like Ritalucia looking at E-gaming as a viable career path and taking an interest in birthing a fully structured industry rooted in community and safety. "It’s been interesting because gaming in Ghana is not very recognized and the possibility of women gamers is still a foreign concept to most," she says. Though more women are gaming, there remain underlying issues.
In conversation with AMAKA, Ritalucia shares her journey, experiences, and how she is navigating discrimination by building safe spaces for everyone.
How did your interest in gaming begin?
I started gaming with my brothers. Our first console was the Nintendo Wii that our mum got us. We had so much fun with it, even playing with her sometimes. She encouraged me to keep playing with my brothers because she saw how it brought us together. As a high schooler who just wanted to fit in and be girly, I stopped. However, after my A levels, I discovered it again.
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What was it like to discover the community in the gaming world?
It's been a journey with ups and downs. Coming back to gaming, I went fully into the online world where I met a lot of people. I’d run into gamers who were kind to me and then those who would insult me upon learning I was a woman. I’ve had people leave games when they hear my voice. I’ve also run into other women gamers and had the most wholesome experiences.
What has been your experience within Ghanaian e-gaming communities?
I found gaming communities in Ghana by being added to Whatsapp groups and Discord servers solely for gaming. Entering these spaces as a woman usually caused mixed reactions. Few people were excited and genuinely happy to meet a woman gamer. Others were simply misogynistic about it and already decided my skill level in their heads based on my gender. Their disdain for me showed the more I posted my content links and expressed myself in the group chat.
I'm pansexual and very proud. These groups often become a cesspool of misogyny and homophobia for me as a queer black woman, but I never shut up or stopped fighting them about it. Eventually, I left most of them for my mental health.
What strides have you made in creating safe communities for women gamers?
My discord server is open to everyone. It's a place where we all interact outside of my streaming hours, support one another's content, and ultimately find like-minded people to game with. My goal is to have a safe space for people to be themselves and for my fellow gamers to interact without fear or judgement.
What game would you encourage beginners to try?
The Last of Us 1, is a super fun game to play. It has a compelling story with everything I love; gays and a strong woman as the lead. I recently learned about how accessible it is for blind people. Another game would be Fall Guys. It’s a fun and silly online game but also highly competitive.
Any word of advice for women with a passion and skill for gaming but no resources or collective to partner with?
Visit esports centres like Arena 233. They allow us to have access to games and peripherals we wouldn’t be able to afford. These spaces are created for us to come and completely be ourselves. The internet is also a great place to find and connect with other female gamers who are always so happy and willing to play or grow their communities.