Swahili web game to tackle Aids
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006 at 4:01 PM
The United Nations children’s agency (Unicef) has launched the first computer game in Kiswahili, aimed at halting the spread of HIV and Aids.
The game called “What would you do?” (Ungefanyaje?) takes players through various scenarios to explain the importance of prevention and testing.
The first ever Kiswahili computer game? That didn’t sound right but then again I can not think of any other Kiswahili computer game. Perhaps someone out there knows of one? If so please share it with us. I have not tried Ungefanyaje yet however, by releasing it UNICEF have done well. Instead of perpetuating the lazy stereotype which suggests that you can not get a message across to Africans through technology, UNICEF has adopted technology as a serious tool in the fight against AIDS. If they wanted a much bigger and much wider impact they should have designed a game for mobile phones. Maybe that’s where we’ll come in!
As for the game itself, I’ll wait for a review from our resident gaming expert
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Entry Filed under: AIDS, Africa, Technology
6 Comments Add your own
1.
Kenyanomics | October 31st, 2006 at 6:55 pm
That game is definately not designed for Kenyan or Ugandan swahili speakers. I don’t think Eastern Congo youth will get anything either, even Presidnt Kabila. I had to dash to Yale’s Kamusi dictionary for defination of 60% of the terms. I however learnt more swahili; kupevuka means kuchanuka. A sheng version would work better among Kenyan youth, and, yes, have it on mobile phones.
2.
Mitzy | October 31st, 2006 at 8:01 pm
I agree the Swahili is quite something. Or are my skills a bit rusty? Kenyanomics makes a good point about a Sheng version being a great addition.
This UNICEF initiative is a very good concept and the English and Swahili versions of the game should be introduced at the primary school level. Maybe the Swahili version could be a group activity in regular Kiswahili classes to make them more interactive and fun.
3.
Global Voices Online &raq&hellip | November 1st, 2006 at 8:27 pm
[...] Mental Acrobatics announces the release of, probably, the first computer game in Swahili, “The first ever Kiswahili computer game? That didn’t sound right but then again I can not think of any other Kiswahili computer game. Perhaps someone out there knows of one? If so please share it with us.” Ndesanjo Macha [...]
4.
Frederick "FN" Noronha | November 2nd, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Hey, I’m trying to access the game from India (English version, via broadband). It seems slow. I’m on a GNU/Linux computer. Is this a heavy game? Are there any less resource-hungry tools to make the same point? Is Flash 6 the most apt? –FN (Frederick Noronha, co-founder, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers )
5.
Frederick "FN" Noronha | November 2nd, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Another question: wonder if the source code is ‘free’ and available? Shouldn’t more deterivates based on this be a useful contribution… to battling AIDS and also deploying the idea for other socially-useful goals? Can the UN agencies make it a point to put out their code Free, so that their work can be taken forward? [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers]
6.
Mentalacrobatics | November 3rd, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Interesting points about whether the game is open source or not. I’m not sure but I will check.
as for the hardcore kiswahili! hehe. I’ll roll up my sleeves and have a go this evening.
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