GAME DESIGN LAB
September 2025 VIRTUAL GAME JAMMING AND COHORT IMMERSION
October 2025 EKHAYA STORYTELLING, RESEARCH AND DIVE CENTRE, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
“As the world transitions, the way we tell stories about that world is transitioning too. Video games have become one of the premier storytelling channels, played by over three billion people, and transcending every demographic from age to income to geography to gender. This has created an incredible opportunity to use that power for the benefit of the planet that sustains us.”
NEWF is excited to welcome a new cohort of passionate creatives to bring forward concepts that will spark curiosity in the NEWF community and around the globe.
The intensive six-day lab will explore how games inspire curiosity, spark behaviour change, and connect players of all ages to the urgent challenges and wonders of our natural world.
From the chosen cohort, four storytellers and scientists are paired with four game developers to collaboratively create rapid prototypes in a game jam-style process. The intellectual property of each game remains with the team, who also have the opportunity to pitch for a USD 10,000 grant to support bringing their concept to life.
Meet the FELLOWS
// EWANGA EMMANUEL NAMATA CAMEROON 🇨🇲
STORYTELLER
Ewanga Emmanuel Namata is a storyteller from Cameroon whose work bridges creative arts, environmental science, and peacebuilding. As a screenwriter and producer with Grafitin Perspective Studios, he has contributed to award-winning films, including The Planter’s Plantation, where he gained wide-ranging experience across production roles. Holding degrees in Geography and Conflict Resolution, his research explores how climate and natural resource governance affect communities and stability.
Namata’s filmmaking includes Ndorty (2022), a conservation documentary amplifying local voices. He has collaborated with the UN University for Peace and spoken on global platforms, including UNESCO’s “Hate Speech: Not My Language.” He is currently developing skills in environmental gaming design to inspire youth-driven conservation.
// FRANK BULUMA TANZANIA 🇹🇿
STORYTELLER
Frank Buluma is a marine scientist from Tanzania whose work combines ocean research, technology, and storytelling. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Dar es Salaam and has participated in research and conservation projects focused on marine biodiversity and climate resilience.
Recently, Buluma explored the role of artificial intelligence and digital tools in advancing conservation and environmental education. He is especially interested in game development as a way to immerse people in ocean stories, building empathy and awareness for climate change and biodiversity loss. His aspiration is to champion creative, tech-driven advocacy for Africa’s oceans.
Photograph by Faye Names
// charles emogo nigeria 🇳🇬
STORYTELLER
Charles Emogo is a Nigerian tropical ecologist and conservationist with a PhD in Zoology. A National Geographic Explorer and Explorers Club EC50 awardee, his research at the University of Cambridge focused on pangolin exploitation dynamics, producing landmark insights into hunting, trade, and local livelihoods. Emogo has worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society Nigeria and founded Pangolino, a global pangolin conservation network.
His awards include the IFAW Animal Action Award, Cambridge Vice-Chancellor’s Research Impact Award, and the National Geographic Early Career Award. He is now a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge and Harvard, applying machine learning to conservation.
// nompumelelo manyathi south africa 🇿🇦
STORYTELLER
Nompumelelo Manyathi is a South African writer, creative technologist, and digital storyteller working at the intersection of arts, technology, and social justice. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Johannesburg, where her research examined gender-based violence in South African theatre.
Manyathi has directed radio dramas, coordinated youth programmes, and presented research on virtual reality as an educational tool. She is expanding into game and app development, including climate justice games, while pursuing coding training. Her interactive storytelling explores women’s experiences and marginalised voices, with the aim of creating digital tools that inspire learning and change.
// prudence muthee kenya 🇰🇪
GAME DEVELOPER
Prudence Ngíma Muthee is a Nairobi-based game programmer with a background in computer science and postgraduate studies in data analytics. Passionate about weaving African cultural heritage into interactive experiences, she draws inspiration from global game industries while rooting her work in local stories and values.
Muthee seeks out collaboration with storytellers, envisioning games that merge technical expertise with narrative depth to create meaningful, culturally resonant experiences.
// ERIC GARDNER SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦
GAME DEVELOPER
Eric Gardiner is a South African artist, entrepreneur, and academic specialising in visual effects for video games. With a Master’s degree in Animation from Wits University, he founded Vetkoek Studios to grow a collaborative, story-driven game development hub.
Gardiner thrives in collective projects, from game jams to studio work, where his skills in programming, art, and animation come alive. He is committed to working with storytellers to push African narratives into spaces that blend creativity, technology, and cultural imagination.
// SABRINA ROBERTS SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦
GAME DEVELOPER
Sabrina Roberts is a South African scientist and game developer whose career bridges ecology and storytelling through games. Moving from computer science into biology, she worked in conservation and research before returning to her passion for interactive design. Since 2016, she has crafted games that foster emotional connection, officially releasing her first title in 2023.
With experience in community leadership, design, and creative collaboration, Roberts aspires to co-create with storytellers and scientists alike—using games to make science and conservation resonate in fresh, narrative-driven ways.
// BRADLEY OMONDI KENYA 🇰🇪
GAME DEVELOPER
Bradley Omondi is a Unity developer from Nairobi with a background in mathematics and physics. At Usiku Games, one of Africa’s leading studios, he has contributed to multiple titles while also releasing his own successful games, including Ma3 Racer and Nairobi Rush Hour.
A regular participant and winner at local game jams, Omondi enjoys the energy of collaboration and the challenge of shaping ideas into playable stories. Inspired by impactful storytelling in games, he seeks to create experiences that entertain while leaving players with lasting meaning.
Meet the Facilitators
// gautam shah KENYA 🇰🇪 | INDIA 🇮🇳 | united states 🇺🇸
FOUNDER, INTERNET OF ELEPHANTS
Gautam Shah is the founder of Internet of Elephants, an organisation at the forefront of transforming conservation support by rekindling connections between people and wildlife. Through innovative use of scientific data on individual animals, they develop engaging digital experiences like games and gamified data visualisations. By collaborating with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Borneo Nature Foundation, WildCRU, and others Internet of Elephants aims to involve the public in wildlife conservation efforts. Gautam's focus on utilizing technology, storytelling, and play to inspire wildlife protection represents a unique approach in the conservation field, with a vision to drive positive change in how society interacts with and supports environmental causes. He is also TED Fellow and National Geographic Explorer.
// JAKE MANION KENYA 🇰🇪 |united KINGDOM 🇬🇧
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, USIKI GAMES
Jake Manion is a game director, designer and producer who has been in the games industry for over 20 years, with the last 9 years working across Africa, creating games for African and international markets. He is currently the Creative Director of Usiku Games in Kenya and the Group Creative Director of the Pan African Gaming Group, and was previously Head of Product at Internet of Elephants and a Creative Director at Aardman Animations in the UK.
