{
 "meta": {
  "title": "African Gaming Communities — The Arena, Ni Biashara",
  "description": "A verified directory of African gaming communities and servers — Discord first, then the continent and the diaspora. Every listing is checked at source before it lands: a real invite link, and a member count that is always shown with the date it was counted. Federations and organisers are listed on a separate partner track — approached, never joined cold.",
  "feed": "african-gaming-communities",
  "publisher": "Ni Biashara",
  "generated_at": "2026-10-22T13:05:00Z",
  "item_count": 25,
  "open_count": 13,
  "partner_count": 12,
  "version": "v1",
  "rules": [
   "Every listing was verified at source on 2026-10-22 (Discord server/discovery pages, official sites, or cited public listings) in a research sweep — nothing was joined, posted to, or messaged.",
   "Member counts display on the page only together with their as_of date. Where no count was public or captured, members is null and no count is shown — counts are never estimated.",
   "access=open rooms carry a join link only where a real invite or server page was verified — never a search page, never a guessed invite.",
   "access=partner entries are federations, tournament organisers and platforms — the rooms Ni Biashara approaches as a partner. They are never presented as open-join and never carry a join button.",
   "Betting channels are not gaming communities and are excluded by rule."
  ],
  "schema": {
   "country": "Home country or diaspora base — e.g. KE, NG, GH, ZA, US (diaspora).",
   "country_base": "The fuller base description as verified (e.g. 'South Africa (pan-African tournament organiser)').",
   "focus": "What the room is for, in one line — games, scene, or general community.",
   "join_url": "The real, live invite or join URL, verified working at listing time. Empty for partner-track entries by design.",
   "members": "Member count as a NUMBER, counted at source. Null until counted.",
   "members_as_of": "The date the count was taken (YYYY-MM-DD). A count is never displayed without this date.",
   "name": "The community's own name, exactly as it styles itself.",
   "platform": "Where it lives — e.g. Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Group.",
   "access": "open = anyone may join via the verified link. partner = federation/organiser/platform — partner track only, never open-join.",
   "source": "Where the listing was verified — the community's own page, site, or the platform listing itself.",
   "as_of": "The date this listing was verified."
  }
 },
 "items": [
  {
   "name": "WATU WA GAMING",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya",
   "focus": "general esports · casual · tournaments · EA FC",
   "members": 4238,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.gg/S37jh7m4",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/watu-wa-gaming-628278524905521177",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord server page",
   "join_note": "Invite also seen in press (esportsafricanews.com, May 2025 — may be stale); server page is the primary verification",
   "notes": "Created Sep 30, 2019. Described as Kenya's #1 video game media hub. EA FC played/tournaments there."
  },
  {
   "name": "Kenya Lounge",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya",
   "focus": "casual · social hangout · gaming",
   "members": 4200,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/kenya-lounge-872899373619613697",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/kenya-lounge-872899373619613697",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord server page",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page",
   "notes": "Created Aug 5, 2021."
  },
  {
   "name": "Mettlestate",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "ZA",
   "country_base": "South Africa (pan-African tournament organiser)",
   "focus": "general esports · daily cups · leagues",
   "members": 24234,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/mettlestate-185252700466708480",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/mettlestate-185252700466708480",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord server page",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page",
   "notes": "Largest verified server in the sweep."
  },
  {
   "name": "OGR Network™ (Onward Gaming Republic)",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "Pan-Africa",
   "country_base": "Pan-Africa",
   "focus": "general esports · free monthly tournaments · creators",
   "members": 14498,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/ogr-network-tm-811120002157510666",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/ogr-network-tm-811120002157510666",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "Freshest crawl; another crawl showed 14,522",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page"
  },
  {
   "name": "ECS Network™",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "Pan-Africa",
   "country_base": "Pan-Africa",
   "focus": "general esports · leagues · scrims",
   "members": 6574,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/ecs-network-tm-1277335334153228400",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/ecs-network-tm-1277335334153228400",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord server page",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page; league site ecsleague.com"
  },
  {
   "name": "ECS Network™ — CODM Circuit server",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "Pan-Africa",
   "country_base": "Pan-Africa",
   "focus": "Call of Duty: Mobile · seasonal circuit",
   "members": 3575,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "Discord discovery listing (ECS CODM circuit)",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord discovery listing",
   "join_note": "Separate server from the main ECS Network server; join via Discord discovery",
   "notes": "Described as Africa's premier seasonal Call of Duty: Mobile circuit."
  },
  {
   "name": "Ghana Sports and Gaming Community (Esports)",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "GH",
   "country_base": "Ghana",
   "focus": "general esports",
   "members": 1827,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers?query=ghani (discovery listing)",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord discovery listing",
   "join_note": "Individual server-page URL NOT captured — next-sweep target; join via Discord discovery search"
  },
  {
   "name": "ZA Gaming Community",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "ZA",
   "country_base": "South Africa",
   "focus": "general · casual · LFG",
   "members": 3324,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/za-gaming-community-375672767321997314",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/za-gaming-community-375672767321997314",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "Server page figure; discovery listing showed 3,268",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page",
   "notes": "Created Nov 2, 2017."
  },
  {
   "name": "ACGL (African Cyber Gaming League)",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "ZA",
   "country_base": "South Africa / Sub-Saharan Africa",
   "focus": "general esports · EA FC / FIFA cups",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "https://discord.gg/3dEqjB5",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public invite)",
   "source": "acgl.gg tournament rules pages (web search result)",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "Not captured — no public count recorded in this sweep",
   "join_note": "Invite printed on acgl.gg tournament rules pages",
   "notes": "Runs EA FC/FIFA cups — direct Kabs tournament recruiting relevance."
  },
  {
   "name": "Shifts Esports (CODM)",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "",
   "country_base": "Not established",
   "focus": "Call of Duty: Mobile",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "https://discord.gg/shiftcodm",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public invite)",
   "source": "Disboard esports tag listing (web search result)",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "Not captured",
   "join_note": "Official server per Disboard esports tag listing",
   "notes": "Country base not established in this sweep — do not attribute a country."
  },
  {
   "name": "Free Fire Sub-Saharan Africa (official Garena)",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "Sub-Saharan Africa",
   "country_base": "Sub-Saharan Africa",
   "focus": "Free Fire",
   "members": 10704,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "Discord discovery listing",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "One crawl; a fresher crawl showed 10,809",
   "join_note": "Server-page URL NOT captured — next-sweep target; join via Discord discovery",
   "notes": "Official Garena server."
  },
  {
   "name": "Sudanese Station",
   "platform": "Discord",
   "country": "SD + diaspora",
   "country_base": "Sudan (diaspora + home)",
   "focus": "gaming · tech · entertainment · youth community",
   "members": 7787,
   "members_as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "join_url": "https://discord.com/servers/sudanese-station-1018510870994763797",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join (public server)",
   "source": "https://discord.com/servers/sudanese-station-1018510870994763797",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "As shown on Discord server page",
   "join_note": "Join via the Discord server page"
  },
  {
   "name": "r/AfricaGaming",
   "platform": "Reddit",
   "country": "Pan-Africa",
   "country_base": "Pan-African",
   "focus": "general gaming",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/AfricaGaming/",
   "access": "open",
   "join_type": "open-join",
   "source": "UN 'Level Up' report (un.org PDF, Jan 2026) via web search result; subreddit existence verified there",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "members_note": "Not captured",
   "join_note": "Public subreddit",
   "notes": "The same UN report names Nairaland (Nigeria) as a gaming forum space — forum, not a joinable community entry."
  },
  {
   "name": "Esports Kenya Federation (ESKF/KESF)",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya",
   "focus": "Kenya Esports League · Kenya PUBG League · MLBB Kenya League · Kenya University Esports League · EA FC scene",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "National federation — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "https://esportskenyafederation.com",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "site": "https://esportskenyafederation.com",
   "key_person": "President: Ronny Lusigi",
   "notes": "NOC-K recognised Dec 2024. NOT an open-join room — partnership approach only."
  },
  {
   "name": "Esports Federation of Nigeria (EFN)",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "NG",
   "country_base": "Nigeria",
   "focus": "national esports",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "National federation — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "key_person": "President: Yahaya Maikori; COO: Damilola Pedro (also Gamr)",
   "notes": "Partnered GameEvo + Cade Esports for the NAFEST 2025 esports debut."
  },
  {
   "name": "Esports Association Ghana (EAG) / Esports Ghana",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "GH",
   "country_base": "Ghana",
   "focus": "national esports",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "National association — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "https://ghanaesports.com",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "site": "https://ghanaesports.com",
   "notes": "Est. 2016; 10-year anniversary 2026. Women's division: Queens.Afrika."
  },
  {
   "name": "Gamr / GamrX",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "NG",
   "country_base": "Nigeria → pan-Africa",
   "focus": "EA FC 25 · PUBG Mobile · Fortnite · Mortal Kombat · CODM · Street Fighter",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Tournament platform / league — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "https://gamrx.net",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "site": "https://gamrx.net",
   "notes": "GamrX4rce 2025 at Carven, Landmark Centre, Lagos. The company's 'network of over 400,000 gamers' is a press claim, NOT a Discord count."
  },
  {
   "name": "Pro Series Gaming (PSG)",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya",
   "focus": "FIFA · Tekken · CoD · PUBG",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Tournament organiser — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "https://psg.co.ke",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "site": "https://psg.co.ke",
   "notes": "Verified via hukukenya.co.ke + aec.africa (web search results)."
  },
  {
   "name": "GameEvo (Game Evolution Esports) + Cade Esports",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "NG",
   "country_base": "Nigeria",
   "focus": "50+ tournaments · CAGE (CADE African Gaming Expo)",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Tournament organisers — partners-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "notes": "Community join links NOT captured."
  },
  {
   "name": "Rangers ESports",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya (Naivasha)",
   "focus": "EA Sports FC 26 East Africa Tournament · EA FC scene",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Tournament organiser / gaming station — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "key_person": "Founder: Caroline Nyambura ('Mama Selina')",
   "notes": "Ran the EA Sports FC26 East Africa Tournament, Oct 19, 2026, Rangers Gaming Station — 100+ gamers from Kenya/Tanzania (tnx.africa). Top players: Joash Ogutu ('Jojo Depay'), Samuel Oyier ('Sam Cater')."
  },
  {
   "name": "eLigue 1 Tour Kenya (IndexG)",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "KE",
   "country_base": "Kenya",
   "focus": "EA FC qualifiers",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "EA FC qualifier circuit — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "key_person": "IndexG CEO: Ronny Lusigi",
   "notes": "Winner represents Kenya in France (esportsafricanews.com / eastleighvoice.co.ke)."
  },
  {
   "name": "Pamoja Esports League",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "TZ",
   "country_base": "Tanzania",
   "focus": "EA FC 26 league",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "League — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "notes": "Season 1 from Aug 7, 2026; 11 teams; TZS 1.5M prize pool; live YouTube broadcasts (eastgamers.news). Community surface = East Gamers WhatsApp channel + Facebook/X/Instagram — the WhatsApp channel URL sits behind a 'this link' on the article and was NOT extracted."
  },
  {
   "name": "RGIDA (Rwanda Games Industry Developers Association)",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "RW",
   "country_base": "Rwanda",
   "focus": "game development",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Dev community anchor — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "notes": "Verified via the Global Game Jam 2026 Kigali site page (globalgamejam.org)."
  },
  {
   "name": "Melanin Gamers",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "UK (diaspora)",
   "country_base": "UK diaspora",
   "focus": "people-of-colour gaming community · Twitch/YouTube",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Diaspora community — partner-to-approach / join via site",
   "source": "https://themelaningamers.com/join-us/",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "site": "https://themelaningamers.com/join-us/",
   "key_person": "Founder: Annabel Ashalley-Anthony (Anzy)",
   "notes": "Founder works with Ghana Esports Federation on international relations."
  },
  {
   "name": "Carry1st",
   "platform": "Federation / organisation",
   "country": "ZA",
   "country_base": "South Africa HQ, pan-Africa",
   "focus": "mobile games publishing · Tribe community platform",
   "members": null,
   "members_as_of": null,
   "join_url": "",
   "access": "partner",
   "join_type": "Publisher / community platform — partner-to-approach",
   "source": "Verified in the 2026-10-22 research sweep",
   "as_of": "2026-10-22",
   "notes": "Tribe cited at 400,000+ members (Fast Company / pocketgamer.biz) — platform-wide figure, NOT a server count. A Carry1st Discord server was NOT verified — do not list one."
  }
 ]
}