How is Ubuntu being shared globally?

Ubuntu is being shared through various initiatives, including workshops and, notably, through gaming. The Be Ubuntu Game Jam is a key example, fostering collaboration between African and European game developers.

What is the Be Ubuntu Game Jam?

The Be Ubuntu Game Jam is a collaborative project between African and European game developers, facilitated by Future Gains. It aims to create games that tell stories centered on community and the Ubuntu philosophy.

What kind of stories are being told through the Be Ubuntu Game Jam?

The games developed through the Be Ubuntu Game Jam tell stories of community, explore themes of colonial injustices (e.g., 'rebooted'), showcase African music and rhythm (e.g., 'Ezekiel'), and address critical global issues like climate action, zero hunger, and gender equality.

When and where will the Be Ubuntu Game Jam be showcased?

The Be Ubuntu Game Jam is planned for February 2026. It aims to bring together game developers from different African and European countries to collaborate and create impactful stories.

What is the core message of Ubuntu in life?

The core message of Ubuntu is that our existence and well-being are intrinsically linked to our community. It encourages playing and living with Ubuntu in your heart, remembering that 'you are because we are.'

Bringing Ubuntu Into Game Design | Pascalia H. Nyamita | TEDxAthens

TED

Nonprofits & Activism3 min read7 min video

Mar 9, 2026|979 views|26|5

Community Design Empathy English Games Gaming Imagination TEDxTalks Technology [TEDxEID:67487]

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Ubuntu concept integrated into game design can foster community and empathy.

Key Insights

Africa is often stereotyped with negative images, but it is rich in culture, stories, and vibrant cities.

The African concept of 'Ubuntu' signifies interconnectedness and community, a valuable lesson for the West.

Gaming is a powerful medium that can be used to share stories and promote community.

The 'Be Ubuntu Game Jam' is a collaboration between African and European game developers to create games rooted in Ubuntu principles.

Games developed through the jam can address important global issues like colonial injustices, climate action, zero hunger, and gender equality.

The 'Be Ubuntu Game Jam' highlights the power of intercontinental collaboration in game design.

REDEFINING AFRICAN NARRATIVES

The speaker challenges the common Western perception of Africa as solely a place of war and starvation. She emphasizes that Africa is a continent brimming with diverse culture, captivating stories, and thriving cities. This perspective aims to showcase a more accurate and vibrant portrayal of African life, moving beyond simplistic and often negative stereotypes. It is a call to recognize the inherent richness and complexity of the continent's identity.

THE ESSENCE OF UBUNTU

Upon moving to Europe, the speaker observed a significant difference in how individuals conceptualize community compared to her African upbringing. She introduces 'Ubuntu,' a core African philosophy that translates to 'I am because we are.' This concept embodies the profound interconnectedness shared among people, the land, and nature. Ubuntu underscores that individual identity and well-being are intrinsically tied to the collective.

SHARING UBUNTU THROUGH WORKSHOPS

To share the valuable concept of Ubuntu, the speaker initiated workshops in Warsaw. These sessions brought together migrants and local Europeans to explore the idea of community. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with participants feeling reminded of a fundamental human need for connection and shared experience. The workshops demonstrated that people readily embrace the principles of sharing and caring when given the opportunity.

GAMING AS A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY

Seeking a broader reach to disseminate the principles of Ubuntu, the speaker identified gaming as a powerful and globally accessible medium. Recognizing that most people engage with games at some point in their lives, she saw an opportunity to leverage this platform for sharing stories and fostering a sense of community. Gaming could serve as an effective avenue to communicate the Ubuntu philosophy on a larger scale.

THE BE UBUNTU GAME JAM INITIATIVE

To translate this vision into reality, a partnership was formed with Future Games, a leading game development school in Europe. This collaboration led to the creation of the 'Be Ubuntu Game Jam.' This initiative aims to unite African and European game developers, tasking them with co-creating games that embody the spirit of Ubuntu, focusing on narratives of community and interconnectedness.

GAMES WITH GLOBAL IMPACT

The games emerging from the Be Ubuntu Game Jam are designed to tackle significant global issues. Examples include games that address colonial injustices by re-examining the repatriation of African artifacts, or those that celebrate African music and rhythm. Future games are intended to spark conversations and promote action on climate change, hunger, and gender equality, blending African and European perspectives.

FOSTERING INTERCONTINENTAL COLLABORATION

The Be Ubuntu Game Jam is structured as a collaboration between 30 game studios, with 15 from Africa and 15 from Europe. This involves developers and producers from various countries, such as Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, and Sweden, working together. This intercontinental partnership exemplifies the core principle of Ubuntu – 'I am because we are' – showcasing the strength and potential of collective effort in creative endeavors.

A CALL TO PLAY WITH UBUNTU

The speaker concludes with an invitation to embrace the spirit of Ubuntu not just in games, but in everyday life. The Be Ubuntu Game Jam, scheduled for February 2026, represents a tangible effort to spread these values globally. The foundational message is a reminder of our shared humanity and interconnectedness, urging everyone to remember 'You are because we are.'

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Organizations

●Concepts

Common Questions

Ubuntu is an African philosophy that means 'I am because we are.' It emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals within a community and guides how people interact with land, nature, and each other. It's deeply ingrained in African culture.

Topics

Africa Europe Game Jam Cultural Exchange Gaming For Good

Mentioned in this video

organizationFuture Gains

One of Europe's leading game development schools, partnered with to create the Be Ubuntu Game Jam.

conceptBe Ubuntu Game Jam

A collaboration between African and European game developers to create games that tell stories of community with Ubuntu at their heart, addressing themes like colonial injustices, cultural heritage, climate action, zero hunger, and gender equality.

softwarerebooted

A game made in Africa where crew members loot Western museums for African artifacts, sparking conversations on colonial injustices.

softwareEzekiel

A game that shares the music and rhythm of Africa, serving as a platform to tell stories through Ubuntu.

toolUbuntu