Maliyo Games, founded by Hugo Obi in 2012, is at the forefront of demonstrating African culture through casual mobile games. The company makes games based on real-life African experiences, fusing vivid graphics with storytelling to resonate with local audiences and captivate global gamers. Maliyo’s notable titles, like Aboki Run and Oga Landlord, exemplify its dedication to presenting uniquely African stories. In a significant milestone, Maliyo Games became the first African gaming studio to partner with Disney, creating Rising Chef which is a tie-in game for the animation series Iwaju.
Beyond gaming, Hugo Obi’s plans for Maliyo Games include capacity building and education. In collaboration with Google, the studio started the “Games Development Bootcamp” to teach prospective developers in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria how to code, animate and design games. The goal of this program is to equip young Africans with the necessary skills to take part in the rapidly expanding global gaming industry. Furthermore, Maliyo has provided insight into the prospects and problems in the gaming ecosystem of the region, by contributing to the African Games Industry Report.
Maliyo Games has gained recognition through multiple awards and accolades, underscoring its influence on the African gaming scene. The studio’s creative approach to mobile gaming won it the TechCrunch Battlefield Africa 2017 competition. It was also featured in CNN’s series on African entrepreneurs, further increasing its international exposure. As Hugo Obi continues to merge culture, technology and education, Maliyo Games is shaping the future of African gaming.
Comments