In case you haven’t heard of Usiku games allow us to enlighten you.
Usiku games is Kenya’s gaming start-up that is changing how gaming is done. Games have more power than you think and this is why usiku games created a dress up game called ‘Beyoutiful’ for African girls that would build their confidence and restore their pride in their African fashion. The game is like any other dress up game where the player will be able to select clothes, accessories and beauty enhancers for the different body sizes and complexions.
There are millions of fashion games across the world but this one is different as it features African women and not the typical white dolls we see in games. The success of this game is evident as it currently has over 20 million downloads according to AppAnnie.
Our African girls have been subjected to play games that don’t resonate with our culture and are even unrealistic. The dolls in normal fashion games are almost always white stick thin girls who are in unrealistic places like the red carpet or a castle.
Usiku Games CEO, Jay Shapiro said that this new game was developed to restore the African girl, restore her strength and pride in her heritage.
International media has been responsible for how millions of girls view themselves.
According to Jay Shapiro he says that the game will be inspiring:
“In a sector that historically has caused millions of girls around the world to feel worse about themselves, we have created a refreshing alternative that celebrates African beauty, skin tone, and body shapes. BeYOUtiful harnesses the power of gamification to subtly convince girls that they can do anything and be exactly who they want to be.”
Most games and even media both online and physical give women unrealistic body goals and more often than not women are objectified. In this game women are not unrealistic but are curvy women who represent different communities from Africa. In the game they have slender Maasai women and different African complexions.
It is an all inclusive games of different women of colour and even physical disabilities which empowers every kind of woman and ensures that all African women are well represented.
The game itself is a lifestyle such that when a young girl plays this game they envision themselves as anything they would like to be. Every girl can seen themselves in this women and feel empowered by the different inspiring possibilities represented.
