In a time when America was grappling with its institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement prompted video game studios to issue pro-BLM statements, donate to Black-centered charities, and promise to elevate Black voices. However, it remains unclear if these studios followed through on those promises or if any tangible change has taken place.
Abubakar Salim, known for his role in Raised By Wolves and as the voice of Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, is an actor deeply involved in the video game industry. He recently pitched his idea for a game, a Metroidvania called Tales of Kenzera: Zau, to studios that had publicly supported the BLM movement. Disappointingly, none of them responded to his pitch.
Undeterred by the lack of response, Salim, along with Surgent Studios, the company he founded, and EA Originals, which published the award-winning game It Takes Two, developed Tales of Kenzera: Zau. The game, set to debut in April, has garnered attention with a high-profile reveal at The Game Awards and a successful recent demo.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is deeply personal to Salim, drawing inspiration from the grief he experienced after his father’s passing and the stories his father shared about Bantu mythology. The game’s visual motifs are rooted in Afrofuturism, incorporating elements from Bantu myths and modern media like the Black Panther comics and films. The protagonist, Zau, voiced by Salim, is a shaman attempting to resurrect his father by bargaining with the God of Death. While such visual motifs and story elements are rare in the industry, Salim believes that the game’s emotional core will resonate with a broad audience, transcending cultural boundaries.
Salim emphasizes that his pitch wasn’t solely about presenting a ‘Black story,’ but rather a human story with universal themes of grief. He acknowledges that his perspective as a Black African informs the narrative, but he ultimately aims to connect with audiences on a deeply human level.
As the gaming community eagerly anticipates the release of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Salim’s commitment to sharing his unique perspective and storytelling is poised to make a significant impact in the industry.
