Building Africa's Gaming Legacy

Founded in 2013 by Cameroonian programmer and designer Olivier Madiba, Kiro’o Games is the first professional video game studio in Central Africa, dedicated to promoting African values through entertainment. The studio gained international attention with Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, a 2D action RPG deeply inspired by African legends and culture. Released on PC in 2016 and published by French-based Dear Villagers, the game was praised for its rich narrative, distinctive art style, and for challenging perceptions of what themes a role-playing game could explore. In 2024, Aurion made the leap to the Xbox console, marking another milestone for African-developed games.

Kiro’o Games has expanded beyond game development to become a driver of Africa’s digital creative economy. The studio created Rebuntu, a mentorship and investment platform designed to help other African internet ventures grow. Through its innovative “Rebuntu Equity Crowdfunding” process, Kiro’o raised over $500,000—allowing private investors to buy shares starting from as little as $500. In July 2024, the studio partnered with Microsoft, a landmark collaboration for the continent’s gaming sector. Its team has also been building Elites of Mboa, a social parody multiplayer comedy game satirizing aspects of African life, which has already attracted strong interest with tens of thousands of downloads of its demo.

Madiba’s entrepreneurial journey has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of the 20 Most Promising Francophone Africa Entrepreneurs in 2013 and placing second in Total Cameroon’s Startupper Challenge in 2016. At the Games Industry Africa Awards 2021, Kiro’o won more categories than any other nominee, taking home Industry Innovation of the Year, Debut of the Year, Team of the Year, and Most Impactful Mobile Game. With a vision to build the most inspiring digital entertainment catalogue in Africa, Kiro’o Games continues to blend cultural authenticity with global-quality production—positioning itself as both a pioneer for African gaming and a bridge to the world stage.