Kenyan based outfit, Jiwe Studios have remained steadfast in their commitment to creating impactful and educational gaming experiences that address social issues. Their latest project Umoja aims to bring untold stories of resistance against slavery on the Swahili Coast to life. Here is an update from the studio.

We have forged impactful partnerships with SOAS, UNESCO, and Pwani University. Together, we have made remarkable progress in creating an interactive historical game designed to illuminate these powerful narratives.

Our goal is to deliver an engaging experience that not only benefits local communities but also serves as a vital resource for educational institutions and deepens our collective understanding of Swahili Coast history.

Community-Led Data Collection and Story Documentation

Since September, our team has been working closely with local community representatives across four villages to uncover and document stories of resistance. This phase involved:

  • Workshops and Village Visits: Through scheduled visits, we facilitated storytelling workshops and captured narratives from community members in each of the four villages.
  • Story Selection and Preparation: With the collected data in hand, we prioritized compelling stories and began preparing them for further documentation, including transcriptions and translations.

What’s Next?

As Phase One concludes, we shift our focus toward the following milestones:

  1. Finalizing story transcriptions, translations, and digital preparations.
  2. Sharing updates via social media and archiving these narratives for online accessibility.
  3. Kickstarting Phase Two: Game script development and co-creation through a community-led Game Jam in early 2025.
  4. Progressing into Phase Three: Full-scale game development.

Community-Driven Co-Creation: A Shared Vision

This phase underscores the heart of our mission: empowering communities to actively contribute to the preservation of their history. The stories and insights shared by locals from the foundation of this initiative, fostering cultural pride and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

We are immensely grateful to our partners, including SOAS, Pwani University, UNESCO, KNATCOM for their unwavering support. Together, we continue to honor the resilience of those who resisted slavery while using the power of storytelling and gaming to inspire future generations.

If you would like to partner with them or to participate in the program, reach out to them via rock@jiwe.io