Kiro'o Games

Based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Kiro'o Games operates as a video game development, animation, and publishing company, distinguished as the first of its kind in Central Africa. The company was founded in 2012 by Olivier Madiba, with Jean Yves Bassangna and Patrick Herve Meli later listed as co-founders. Madiba, who serves as CEO, nurtured a passion for video games from a young age and pursued computer science at the University of Yaoundé I before founding the studio to create interactive content rooted in African culture and mythology. The name Kiro'o is derived from the Swahili phrase "kiroho maono," meaning "spiritual vision."

Kiro'o Games' business model centers on creating a cross-media entertainment ecosystem that includes video games, comics, and animation. The company generates revenue through direct sales of its PC and console games, in-game microtransactions for its mobile titles, and providing B2B animation services. A key part of its strategy involves building intellectual property with a distinct African identity, aiming to capture a significant share of the continent's growing gamer population. To overcome initial funding challenges, Kiro'o developed its own equity crowdfunding platform called "Rebuntu," which allows investors to buy shares and participate in the company's management. This approach has enabled them to raise significant capital, including over $900,000 from hundreds of micro-investors. The company has also secured partnerships, such as a revenue-sharing deal with telecom giant MTN for its mobile games.

The studio's flagship product is "Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan," an action role-playing game (Action-RPG) launched in 2016. The game follows Prince Enzo Kori-Odan, who, after a coup on his coronation day, embarks on a journey to reclaim his throne, drawing on ancestral powers known as the Aurion. The gameplay features real-time, 2D combat and a narrative that explores themes of self-discovery and legacy, inspired by African folklore and cultures. Aurion has been recognized for its world-building and narrative, and in 2024, it became the first game from a sub-Saharan African studio to be released on the Xbox platform. Beyond Aurion, the company has developed mobile games like "Aurion: Kajuta Gems Fighters" and "The Mboa Manager" (also known as Elites of Mboa), a social parody game simulating the life of an African civil servant. This multi-platform strategy allows Kiro'o to cater to both the global PC/console market and the rapidly expanding mobile gaming audience in Africa.

Keywords: Kiro'o Games, Olivier Madiba, African video games, Cameroonian gaming, Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, Action-RPG, Rebuntu Equity Crowdfunding, Yaoundé, video game development, cross-media entertainment, African mythology, Mboa Manager, mobile gaming Africa, Jean Yves Bassangna, Patrick Herve Meli, Kiroho Maono, gaming in Africa, PC gaming, console gaming, Xbox, animation services, digital comics, entertainment ecosystem