Co-production of a mobile game against slavery and for peace in Mali
Lead Research Organisation:
SOAS University of London
Department Name: Sch of History, Religions and Philosophy
Abstract
The project is a collaboration between SOAS (PI Marie Rodet) and the Malian organisations Donkosira and Voice4Thought Academy (V4T) in the continuation of an AHRC-funded project through the Antislavery Knowledge Network, which used arts and humanities to fight against slavery in Mali.
This new project aims to continue to make the history of slavery better-known and raise awareness against descent-based slavery in Mali yet this time through the co-designing of a mobile game with young Malian villagers from Western and Central Mali, and make it ultimately a factor for peace.
This project targets mostly young generations, to develop their skills and knowledge of the history of internal slavery and of resistance against it. It will deepen their comprehension of Malian history, inspire and support them in the fight against descent-based slavery, for human rights and against discrimination, and thus change mentalities.
Furthermore, it will empower them with technical skills which can assure them future revenues. In line with the UN objectives for the 'International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development', this project aims to develop creative support systems and capabilities among marginalised communities, and to promote social change and knowledge.
This project involves equitable international collaboration with the creative and cultural sectors through its strong partnership with Donkosira and V4T Academy in Mali, as well as crucial knowledge transfer through its collaboration with Dutch Value Foundation specialised in digital humanities and online gaming and the Malian creative entreprise Kasart Media.
The project has a huge potential in both producing creative knowledge and awareness-raising media, and in increasing knowledge of historical context and young people's commitment to fight for social justice and peace.
This new project aims to continue to make the history of slavery better-known and raise awareness against descent-based slavery in Mali yet this time through the co-designing of a mobile game with young Malian villagers from Western and Central Mali, and make it ultimately a factor for peace.
This project targets mostly young generations, to develop their skills and knowledge of the history of internal slavery and of resistance against it. It will deepen their comprehension of Malian history, inspire and support them in the fight against descent-based slavery, for human rights and against discrimination, and thus change mentalities.
Furthermore, it will empower them with technical skills which can assure them future revenues. In line with the UN objectives for the 'International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development', this project aims to develop creative support systems and capabilities among marginalised communities, and to promote social change and knowledge.
This project involves equitable international collaboration with the creative and cultural sectors through its strong partnership with Donkosira and V4T Academy in Mali, as well as crucial knowledge transfer through its collaboration with Dutch Value Foundation specialised in digital humanities and online gaming and the Malian creative entreprise Kasart Media.
The project has a huge potential in both producing creative knowledge and awareness-raising media, and in increasing knowledge of historical context and young people's commitment to fight for social justice and peace.
| Title | Mobile games against slavery |
| Description | We have worked on a mobile game prototype to fight against slavery in Mali. 6 additional prototypes have been produced during two game jam (one in Bamako - Mali and one online). |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Raising awareness among the young generation about slavery in Africa Capacity building of our partner Jiwe through the collaboration on the game jam Increased of serious games available on the topic of slavery |
| URL | https://jiwe.studio/stories/game-jam-against-slavery/ |
| Description | Although the work is still in progress, the project has already taken a step forward filling the gap between research and both the creative economy and the cultural sphere. The first phase of the project was dedicated to field research by young Malians that the research team trained in qualitative and oral history research on slavery, to encourage the youth to engage and understand the history of slavery and its lingering legacies. This innovative methods of research co-construction have been crucial in integrating from-below perspectives about the topic of slavery, engaging directly the populations concerned and ultimately informing and producing the game concept. This engagement was directly supported by a game jam in Bamako in December 2022: Marie Rodet with partners Donkosira (Mali) and Jiwe Studios (Kenya) invited the project participating villagers to design video game concepts to raise awareness on the issue of descent-based slavery and give people the tools and inspiration to fight it. These concepts were based on the oral history work about descent-based slavery that these villagers had been conducting in their own community of Western and Central Mali in the previous months. An online game jam was then organised in Feb 2023 inviting game developers across the continent to turn the game concepts into workable video games. In brief, the key findings are about the potential of co-construction and co-production of research with people directly concerned by the project to create real grassroots engagement and make the contribution to academic research more in sync with African realities and thus increase impact. |
| Exploitation Route | The research methods involving villagers and training them to research their own community and to use this research to design game concepts and ultimately to produce games through game jam with developer, are replicable in other research areas interested in fostering impact through serious games (idea of games for change). The project is also evidence that the collaboration between academic research and creative economy can be fruitful for both areas, and can increase the impact of knowledge collected through fieldwork to produce social and societal change. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://gamesindustryafrica.com/2023/02/22/jiwe-studios-to-host-game-jam-against-slavery/ |
| Description | We have showcased the game with pupils and students in Mali, Kenya and the UK. Some examples of the feedback we collected: Kenyan students (November 2023): The game was fun and educational and made me think a lot about slavery I love how the game is very different, definitely love the idea of a game within a game and the storytelling. I realized I could also enjoy the game in Swahili and French too. Thank you for that element Malian students (May 2024) : A truly inspiring, innovative and educational game I think the game is very instructive. With this game, you can find out why some people are still considered slaves today. UK pupils (November 2024): I like how the games puts you in the perspective of someone who experiences slavery /discrimination. It educates and informs the player of what people experience and it also evokes sympathy in them. The game was very immersive which helped me experience and understand the history more |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | ESRC Impact Accelerator Account |
| Amount | £12,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | HEIF |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | ODA GCRF and Newton Consolidation Accounts |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | SOAS Business & Commercialisation fund (IKE) |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | SOAS Business & Commercialisation fund (IKE) |
| Amount | £19,950 (GBP) |
| Organisation | School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Description | Bamako workshop, February 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | From 31 January to 5 February 2022, Bamako hosted the first workshop of the Djonya Kélé ja Toulon project ("Gameurs contre l'esclavage"), which aims to contribute to the fight against descent-based slavery in Mali by creating a video game for mobiles that will raise awareness of the consequences of this phenomenon. Twenty young people from the regions of Kayes and Massina, supervised by the associations Donkosira and V4T, received initial training in qualitative research and in collecting the history of their localities. They will participate in the creation of the game scenario and its development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Game Jam workshop in Bamako, December 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The game jam workshop of the Djona Kèlê Ja Toulon project started on 19 December in Bamako. During this final workshop, the villagers of the project deepen their knowledge of the video game universe and participate in the conception of the future video game to fight against descent-based slavery, with the support and the supervision of the team of JIWE Studios (Kenya). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.donkosira.org/en/le-game-jam-de-bamako-19-22-decembre-2022/ |
| Description | Online Game Jam, February 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Following the creative work made in Bamako, the Djonya Kêlè Ja Toulon project organised an online Game Jam on the February 24th - 28th hosted by Jiwe Studios. During four days, on Jiwe's Discord server, the developers teams worked to convert the concepts imagined in Mali in videogames to raise awareness on the issue of descent-based slavery and give people the tools and inspiration to fight it through games. Ultimately, 7 teams were able to submit their prototypes. After the jury deliberation, the top three prototypes were selected and rewarded with 500USD for the 1st Place, 300 USD for the 2d place and 200 USD for the 3rd. These games are now available on Jiwe's platform. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presenting the Djonya Kêlè project (Games against slavery) at the Games for Change Festival in New York, 17-20 July 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | From 17 to 20 July 2023, Dr Marie Rodet (project director), Max Musau (CEO of Jiwe Studios) and Aline Desdevises (project coordinator) attended and presented the Djonya Kêlè Ja Toulon project at the Games for Change 2023 conference in New York. This conference focused on the positive impact that video games can have in the world, and how to foster these positive changes. Max Musau presented our Usawa mobile game produced within the project in the panel titled "International Games for Change: Regional Change Makers". He explained the process of creation of the game, research-based and community-driven, and in what ways games could be of use in raising awareness against African descent-based slavery. Watch Max Musau's presentation here! The Q&A session highlighted the similarities in how games can bring about social change in different parts of the world, notably Africa, South America, and Asia. As well as representing the project, the conference was also an opportunity to connect with people closely involved in the video game industry, to draw inspiration from shared thoughts and experiences, and to raise awareness of the phenomenon of slavery in West Africa. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.donkosira.org/en/presentation-du-projet-djonya-kele-gameurs-contre-lesclavage-a-la-confe... |
| Description | Second workshop of the Djonya Kélé Ja Toulon project in Kayes, March 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Kayes hosted the second workshop of the Djonya Kélé Ja Toulon project from 25 to 28 March. The aim of the workshop was to develop training for the village teams of Donkosira and V4TA (Ségou branch) in qualitative research on descent-based slavery. The workshop began with a presentation of the various videos that the investigators had made on the field, with the aim of exchanging views on the difficulties, the content of the videos made and the approach used in the field. The villagers were thus better equipped and trained for the next surveys. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Third workshop in Ségou, July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | After the workshops in Bamako and Kayes, Ségou hosted the third workshop on the Djonya Kèlê Ja Toulon project from 18 to 22 July. The workshop was organised by V4TA and the association Donkosira, aiming to convert the results of the in-depth (qualitative) in theatre scenes and begin the work on a video game scenario to raise awareness and inform people about the phenomenon of slavery in Mali. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woaJS_klwzQ&ab_channel=KUNAFONI.COM |
| Description | USAWA GAME LAUNCHED IN NAIROBI (Kenya) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | After a year's work by the artistic and technical teams of the 'Gaming against slavery' project, split between Mali, Senegal, Kenya, the UK and France, a first version of the game was launched in Nairobi on 30 September 2023. The launch took place at the Game Centre in Nairobi, and was attended by around thirty people (developers, artists, bloggers, etc.). After a speech by the founder of Games for Change, Suzanne Seggerman, participants were able to attend a panel discussion with Marie Rodet (Professor at SOAS, University of London and director of the 'Gaming against slavery' project), Martin Khamala (Lecturer at Technical University, Kenya) and Anthony (founder of Zamani Films) on the use of serious games to bring about positive and tangible social change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.slaveryforcedmigration.org/en/lancement-du-jeu-usawa-a-nairobi-septembre-2023/ |