Fancy yourself as a weeb? Like, a true weeb? If the only words you know are Kon’nichiwa and Nani (?!), you’ve got some serious work to do. Fortunately, this year’s Comic Con Africa will let you put in that work and teach you some real Japanese. It’ll even teach you a bunch of other stuff – if you know where to look. You can immerse yourself in lessons that’ll teach you to draw, roll your own blu-, uh, rice balls and learn to play some of the hottest board and card games around.
Get lost in Otaku Town
Let’s start with Otaku Town, the Con’s miniature slice of Japan, parked right next to Netflix’s big experiences in Hall 6. Here, at 10:00-11:00 every day of the Con (26-29 Sep), you’ll have the chance to learn Japanese – the essential phrases and “cultural nuances” to keep the sub-watchers off your back – from Mami Sugawara along with the Japanese Language Club of South Africa and the Japanese Embassy of South Africa.
Stick around another 30 minutes (11:00-11:30) and you’ll be trained in the ways of martial arts, with expert martial artist Lee Jardine at the helm. You’ll only be doing the basics – stances, strikes, and blocks – across “various disciplines”, but you’ll at least be able to give that Naruto cosplay a little more authenticity.
If you’ve already got a Duolingo subscription and have seen Naruto twice, skip the Japanese lesson and learn how to make some new meals. From 12:30-13:30 every day, Chef Danny and Jessica Yun give you a deep-fried dive into Japanese meals and, more importantly, how to make them.
On the menu for Thursday, (26 Sep) is Onigiri. Friday’s (27 Sep) offerings involve a ‘Bento Battle’ that’s less about the cooking and more about crafting the best bento box of the lot. Coming on Saturday? You’ll be treated to a lesson in cooking proper ramen, while Sunday’s attendees will become masters of the Tonkatsu pork cutlet.
Otaku Town has more to offer visitors no matter which day they’re attending like Attack on Titan meet-ups, Gundam-building sessions, and even an expo on the art of storytelling in manga and anime. You’ll need to plan your visits accordingly with the help of the Otaku Town program right here.
Conquer Artists Alley (and learn to wield a lightsaber)
One of the Comic Con Africa mainstays is Artist Alley, a feature that’s been included since the event’s inception. It’s a culmination of local and international artists, coming together to appreciate art from all over. Here, you can buy, sell, and most importantly, learn from some of the best artists in the world.
Plenty is happening at Artist’s Alley this year. Not only is there a massive bunch of stands with like-minded geeks selling off their works of art located in Hall 6, but there’s loads to learn – hopefully enough to ensure you’ll be on the other end of the Yoco card machine at Comic Con Africa 2025.
Head to the Pop Art Stage, near the walkway between Halls 6 & 7 at 15:00 today (26 Sep) for a 30-minute session that’ll help you perfect the first sentence of your book (and that you don’t end up on this particular Wikipedia page). That’ll involve the talents of Theresa Bhowan Rajah, Michael Ferguson, and Keli H.
Return to the Con (at the Pop Art Stage) on Friday (27 Sep) at 11:00 and you’ll get a behind-scenes-look at the creative processes of Guile Sharp, international cover artist – from beginning to end. It won’t guarantee you a spot in the Marvel database, but it’s the first step for newbies to dip their toes in comic book ink.
And finally, the nerdiest lesson of the lot: learning to properly wield a lightsaber. Rather than your best impression of Michael Cera, Ilum Relix will take you through an “action-packed demonstration of lightsaber techniques,” as well as a duel between two experts to show you how it’s really done. Lucky members of the crowd will be given the opportunity to learn the basics.
That’ll happen at 13:30 on Thursday, 14:30 on Friday, 15:00 on Saturday, and 17:00 on Sunday.
Unplug Yourself at Comic Con
Unplug Yourself (no, that isn’t some dark euphemism) at Comic Con Africa in the Black Eagle Conference Hall, found somewhere in between Halls 7 and 8, and discover the sixty-something tables – all filled with free-to-play board games such as Catan, Wingspan and 7 Wonders. If you’re blissfully unaware of how to play these games, ruin your social life and ask one of the Unplug Yourself directors to give you and your friends a lesson.
If you’re looking for directions to play something more… substantial, there are live ‘Learn to Play’ sessions involving Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic: The Gathering spanning the entire weekend. You’ll need to visit Comic Con’s program to find a slot that suits you best.
If you’re around the Con on Saturday (28 Sep), you’ll be given a lesson in the way of miniatures – how to play their respective games, how to get into collecting and painting your own figures to better align yourself with that of Henry Cavill. Make sure you’re in the Black Eagle Conference Hall between 09:00 and 18:00 to get in on the action.