Abubakar Salim, best known for his acting roles in Raised by Wolves and House of the Dragon, has just released his debut video game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. The game took four years to develop and draws heavily on myths and legends from African Bantu culture. Zau, the title character, is a young shaman who summons the god of death to bring his father back to life. The game explores themes of grief and loss and offers players the option to play with Swahili dialogue.
In December 2020, Salim unveiled Tales of Kenzera on-stage at The Game Awards in Los Angeles, where he gave an emotional speech about how the game was inspired by the death of his father, Ali, a decade earlier. The game’s trailer was well-received, with its vivid graphics, stirring score, and setting prompting many to add it to their wishlists. The game’s reception, according to Salim, has been “wild” and “brilliant,” with its universal theme of grief appealing to gamers.
Tales of Kenzera is a rare video game with a black main character and one that draws on African mythology, making it highly unusual. This representation is important for inclusivity within gaming and has led to people referring to the game as “the Black Panther of gaming.” Salim has acknowledged the influence of the Marvel hit, and EA Originals, the indie imprint of the gaming company behind the EA FC series, is publishing the game.
Salim hopes to turn Tales of Kenzera into a full-blown franchise, with film, TV, and comic spin-offs. He believes that by expanding the world of the game, he can inspire other creatives to tell stories within that universe or create their own. Tales of Kenzera is an enormous accomplishment for Salim, and it is an important step forward for inclusivity in gaming
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