James Ahere on Building Weza Interactive: Where Gaming Meets African Culture

On this episode of My Tech Story Africa, we sit down with James Ahere, co-founder and business development lead at Weza Interactive Entertainment, to explore the emerging African video game industry.

James shares his journey of starting a gaming studio at just 23 years old alongside his brother. With his background in law and business, and his brother's software engineering expertise, they set out to create games that showcase African culture, history, and identity to the world.

Their first game, "Mzito," launched in 2017 after the team was selected for the prestigious French Tech ticket incubator program. James reveals how the game takes players on a journey across Africa's beautiful destinations while addressing themes of leadership, awakening potential, and conquering corruption.

The conversation offers fascinating insights into the challenges of pioneering in an industry still in its infancy in Africa. James candidly discusses team dynamics, funding challenges, and the steep learning curve they faced as young entrepreneurs. Despite these obstacles, Weza Interactive has expanded its vision to create the "Mzito Universe," with their second game, "Riziki," focusing on uniting Africa through music.

James highlights the growth of Kenya's gaming ecosystem, mentioning several successful local studios and developers who are making their mark globally. He also explores how gaming technology can benefit African businesses through gamification, experiential marketing, and educational applications.

Throughout the discussion, James emphasizes their mission to tell authentic African stories through interactive entertainment. "The world wants to see what Africa has," he explains, pointing to the success of Afrobeats music and films like Black Panther as evidence of global appetite for African creativity.

To keep up with James' journey, check out his LinkedIn:  / james-ahere  

Check out Weza Interactive entertainment:https://www.weza.africa/

00:00 Intro
01:37 Meet James Ahere
02:31 Where did it start?
03:27 Building Mzito
10:45 When Luck meets preparation
13:31 What is Mzito
15:41 Riziki
19:10 The gaming industry in Kenya
25:00 Gamification in Media
29:00 How much does developing a game cost
33:30 Final Thoughts
35:40 Where to find him and Weza Interactive


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