I’m Marvelous Akinkunmi — a Fine Arts student at Obafemi Awolowo University, a 3D Artist at Maliyo Games, and a proud alumnus of the 2023 GameUp Africa Art Programme.
This is the story of how a passion for art took me from the classrooms of Ile-Ife to the vibrant streets of Paris for an unforgettable summer training programme at Gobelins, one of the world’s leading creative schools for animation and digital media.
The Beginning: GameUp Africa
In 2023, I was selected to join the GameUp Africa Art Programme, an initiative by Maliyo Games supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria.
That experience opened a whole new world for me. I learned the fundamentals of game art, environment design, and the collaborative nature of game development. It was my first real taste of what it meant to bring digital worlds to life, and it sparked a deeper curiosity about the global creative industry.
What I didn’t know then was that this was just the start of my journey.
Joining Maliyo Games
After completing the programme, I joined Maliyo Games as a 3D Artist, contributing to Safari City — a mobile game where players renovate and design homes across vibrant African cities.
Working on Safari City taught me more than just technical skills. I learned what it takes to build a game from concept to production, and how teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving come together to deliver an experience players love.
A Summer in Paris
Fast forward to July 2025. I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Paris, France, to join the Gobelins Summer School in Real-Time Animation with Unreal Engine — a two-week intensive training programme bringing together aspiring artists and developers from around the world.
It was my first time in Paris, and everything felt both exciting and overwhelming. The city was full of life, and the Gobelins community was warm and welcoming. But the real challenge began when I sat down with Unreal Engine — almost like working with it for the first time.
Learning by Doing
While some participants arrived with working concepts and playable prototypes, I started by familiarising myself with the interface, exploring landscape tools, and shaping my scene.
Throughout the week, I made steady progress:
✅ Finalised my environment
✅ Imported a staff weapon I designed in Blender
✅ Experimented with Blueprint logic in Unreal
Every day brought new challenges — bugs, time pressure, and a steep learning curve — but also meaningful milestones.
By the final day, I had built a playable prototype and presented it to the group. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a huge step forward — and a proud moment.
Beyond Skills: Confidence & Perspective
This experience wasn’t just about technical skills. It was about confidence, creative problem-solving, and gaining a global perspective.
Being part of an international creative community reminded me that African talent belongs on the global stage. It showed me that growth often happens in unfamiliar territory — and that learning never really stops.
Looking Ahead
I’m incredibly grateful to Maliyo Games, Gobelins, and the French Embassy for making this opportunity possible. The support I’ve received has shaped not only my skills but also my mindset as a game artist.
With this training behind me, I return home with new ideas, a deeper understanding of tools like Unreal Engine, and a clearer vision of the kinds of stories I want to tell through games.
This is just the beginning.
