Building Africa’s esports Future: A Conversation with Désiré Kousawo

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts will bring their own unique perspective and tell stories from their personal worlds, offering fresh insights into how esports is creating jobs, changing lives, and shaping the future of work in ways we might not have imagined. This season is all about exploring new angles, broadening our reach, and bringing more voices into the conversation. Get ready for stories that are different, yet aligned with our core message: Play Games, Create Jobs, Change Lives! Guest host: Calino Calebson, CEO of Ace Gamers Esports in Ghana. Meet Caleb Agbenyega, he is our first guest host of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, who also goes by his media personality name ‘Calino Calebson’,  and is from Ghana. He is the CEO and founder of Ace Gamers Esports and the president of the Africa Champions League. We were fortunate to have him as a guest in Season 5, and soon realized he has more stories to tell. We are very excited to have him on board. Season 6, Episode 1 Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast, host Calino Calebson speaks with Désiré Kousawo, president of SAGES Africa, about the development of the eSports ecosystem in Africa. They discuss Kousawo's extensive background in eSports, the challenges and opportunities in the African gaming landscape, and the importance of distinguishing between game development and eSports. The conversation highlights the role of local partnerships, the impact of gaming tournaments, and the potential for growth in the African eSports scene. In this conversation, Désiré KOUSAWO discusses the evolving landscape of esports, focusing on the balance between competition and resources, the importance of funding and business models, and the growth of the Gamers' Assembly. He highlights the significance of collaboration between Africa and France in the gaming industry and shares insights on leadership within the eSports community. The discussion culminates in a powerful message about unity and strength in numbers, particularly for the African gaming ecosystem. *  *  * Featured in this episode: Désiré Koussawo Président SAGES Africa, Président France Esports, Président d'honneur chez Association Futurolan (Gamers Assembly) & ex-ESL Gaming France Managing Director LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desirekoussawo/ *  *  * Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode. Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing. And tell your friends! CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE: Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TRl42z9cbMyZMhcpNo0cw TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamerschangelives PRODUCTION: Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/ Executive Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/ ABOUT THE SHOW: Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives. This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face. Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!