2024-06-13 – 07:30-08:30 (Africa/Abidjan), Room B - THT Kamer
This engaging conference session would explore the exciting intersection of game development and African languages, highlighting the transformative potential of leveraging indigenous languages in digital gaming. The session will showcase innovative projects, discuss challenges and opportunities, and present compelling reasons why investing in game development for African languages is not only culturally enriching but also economically impactful.
We will do a background check on the importance of preserving and promoting African languages and linguistic diversity through digital mediums like gaming which enables players to experience narratives and gameplay in their mother tongues. We shall discuss how digital games can serve as modern tools for preserving and revitalizing endangered African languages, fostering pride and appreciation among native speakers. This also fosters community engagement and empowerment, promoting social cohesion and cultural exchange. Aside from the social potential, there is untapped market potential for localized games in Africa.
The session is a melting pot for academia, game development studios, and cultural organizations, offering a dynamic and insightful exploration of game development for African languages. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the transformative power of gaming in preserving cultural heritage and driving socio-economic impact across the Global South.
Join us in shaping the future of gaming by empowering Africa through indigenous languages!
Adéṣínà Ayẹni (Ọmọ Yoòbá) is a language rights activist, digital rights defender, cultural heritage advocate, and the founder of Yobamoodua Cultural Heritage, a cottage language and information services organization.
He has facilitated various online workshops and participated in many digital activism initiatives that aim to give a voice to minority and low-resourced languages on digital landscape.
Ọmọ Yoòbá has contributed to language research and documentation projects, as well as worked with other community members to localise tools and resources from English into low-resourced languages. He is open to collaborative efforts that minimises linguistic barriers and facilitate digital inclusion.