In Africa, E-Game Players Save Lions from Poachers

Many of today’s online games feature violence and unhealthy body stereotypes, but a company in Kenya is set to bringing mobile gaming closer to home – while focusing on fun, competitive and socially responsible environmental goals.

“When was the last time you saw an African hero in a video game?” says Jay Shapiro, co-founder of Usiku Games, which officially launched on December 14^th. “We looked at how can we make games that are unlike what’s out there at the moment. That are made in Africa, for Africa, with African heroes in African environments … so that when somebody plays it, they see themselves reflected in the game.”

The mini games’ themes include climate change and conservation, with scenarios such as saving lions from poachers, directing water from a river to a farm, solving traffic congestion, and a dress-up game with African characters. Usiku Games also plans to have winners of the games earn coins which could potentially be converted to money that could pay for school or medical fees.