There are few events that bring together such a diverse mix of entertainment, creativity, fandom, and pop culture quite like Comic Con Africa — and the 2026 edition at Nasrec once again delivered an experience filled with excitement, colour, incredible costumes and plenty for fans to discover. My Comic Con Africa experience began before the public opening, when members of the media were invited on Wednesday, 23 September, for a special briefing and walkthrough of the convention. It was a great opportunity to get a feel for what was in store across the four-day event, explore the venue and see some of the activations and attractions coming together behind the scenes. Of course, no media briefing would be complete without a little something to take home, and we were also treated to a fantastic goodie bag from the event’s sponsors — a great way to kick off the Comic Con experience.
Although Comic Con Africa ran across four days, I attended two of them — Thursday, 24 September and Saturday, 26 September — with each day offering something completely different.
Thursday: Exploring the World of Comic Con
Thursday was all about exploring. I wanted to take in the full Comic Con Africa experience, from the incredible stalls and activations to the cosplay, merchandise, gaming, entertainment and, of course, the thousands of passionate fans who make this event what it is. Walking through the convention, you are constantly surrounded by something that catches your attention. The creativity behind the cosplay alone is extraordinary, with fans putting incredible time, effort, and personality into bringing their favourite characters to life. The stalls and activations added another dimension to the experience, creating plenty of opportunities to discover new brands, products, entertainment, and experiences while soaking up the atmosphere.
And then there were the panels.
Diving Into the World of One Piece
One of the highlights of my Thursday was attending the panel featuring the South African actors from the live-action One Piece series.
Richard Gau, Jazzara Jaslyn, Martial T Batchamen, Steven John Ward and Nahum Hughes took audiences behind the scenes and unpacked their experiences being part of such a globally recognised franchise. It was fascinating hearing about their individual journeys, what it meant to become part of the One Piece universe and what the experience has been like working on a production with such a passionate international fanbase. Panels like this are one of the reasons Comic Con is so special. Fans don’t simply get to watch their favourite shows — they get an opportunity to hear directly from the people who help bring those stories to life.
Entering the World of Rick and Morty
The second panel took us into a completely different universe — Rick and Morty. Voice artists Spencer Grammar, Harry Belden and Ian Cardoni gave fans an insight into the world behind the voices and characters that have made the animated series such a global phenomenon.
Hearing them discuss their experiences and diving deeper into the creative world of Rick and Morty was fascinating. There is something particularly interesting about voice acting because the audience often knows the character long before they understand the process behind creating that voice and personality. The panel provided a wonderful opportunity to explore that world from the perspective of the artists themselves.
And, as always, DJ Elliot was on top form as the host of the main stage, keeping the energy flowing and helping create the lively atmosphere that continued throughout the day.
Saturday: From Fan to Interviewer
I returned to Comic Con Africa on Saturday, 26 September, and this time my experience moved from exploring the convention to getting behind the microphone. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview four of the South African One Piece cast members — Jazzara Jaslyn, Martial T Batchamen, Steven John Ward and Nahum Hughes (in the picture). Having watched the panel on Thursday, it was particularly exciting to have the opportunity to sit down with them and continue the conversation, finding out more about their experiences, careers, and involvement in the series. These are the moments I particularly enjoy about attending events like Comic Con. The convention provides an incredible environment for fans, but for Celeb Savant it also creates opportunities to connect with the talented people behind the projects that audiences are watching and enjoying.
More Than Just a Comic Convention
Comic Con Africa has grown into much more than a celebration of comics. It is a meeting point for film, television, gaming, animation, cosplay, technology, music, creativity, and fandom. More importantly, it brings together people who are passionate about the things they love.
Whether you are there to meet a favourite actor, attend a panel, discover a new game, admire the cosplay, shop for collectibles, meet fellow fans or simply experience the atmosphere, there is something to draw you in. For me, attending across two days allowed me to experience Comic Con from two different perspectives — firstly as someone exploring and enjoying the convention, and secondly as a content creator getting the opportunity to interview some of the talented people connected to one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises. A huge thank you to the entire Comic Con Africa team for putting together such an energetic and engaging event, and a special thank you to Clair Wright, my touch point throughout the event, for all her assistance, guidance, and support. It was a pleasure being part of Comic Con Africa 2026, and I look forward to seeing what this ever-growing celebration of pop culture brings next.