Your Content. Your Game.
We’re bringing player creativity into our games, using AI to transform personal content into unique in-game experiences that make every player’s journey their own.
Discover Kewa’s FashionSince 2012
Africa is not just playing games. We’re making them.
Since 2012, Maliyo Games has been on a mission to build world-class games, develop exceptional talent, and help create a thriving games industry in Africa. What started as an ambitious idea in Lagos has grown into a studio working across game development, global partnerships, education, research, and industry development.
Philosophy
Build games. Build people. Build the industry.
Build Games
Commercially successful products that stand beside the best in the world, made in Africa and played everywhere.
Build People
Exceptional talent grows through training, mentorship and real production experience, so great ideas have the people to carry them.
Build the Industry
Africa’s gaming industry grows through access to markets, meaningful partnerships and a community committed to growing together.
Capabilities
What we do.
Original Games & IP
We create and own original mobile games and characters rooted in African culture, built to grow into lasting franchises.
Game Development & Co-production
We design, build and ship games for global brands and studios, from concept through live operations.
Publishing & Distribution
Through strategic partnerships like Guardian Games (opens in a new tab), we help developers bring their games to market, reach new audiences, and unlock global opportunities.
Talent Development
Through GameUp Academy we train the next generation of African developers, artists and designers for real careers in gaming.
Industry Research & Partnerships
We publish research on Africa’s games market and work with partners, investors and institutions to grow the industry.
AI Principles
Human Creativity. Powered by AI.
We’re using AI to unlock new possibilities for how people create, play, and learn. At Maliyo Games, we’re exploring how artificial intelligence can make gaming more personal, interactive, and accessible. From enabling players to bring their own content into our games and create unique experiences, to building an AI-powered learning companion that provides personalised guidance and support to learners on GameUp Academy, we’re putting powerful new tools in people’s hands.
Our approach is simple: AI expands what’s possible. People bring the imagination.
Your Learning. Your Pace.
Through GameUp Academy, we’re building an AI career companion that understands learners’ skills, identifies knowledge gaps, and provides personalised guidance to help them achieve their career goals.
Learn more (opens in a new tab)Our team
The people behind the games.
We work with highly motivated, creative, and ambitious minds — engineers, designers, artists, data analysts and more.
Hugo Obi
Founder & CEO
Hugo leads Maliyo Games’ vision and strategy, bringing together talent, creativity, and technology to build games inspired by Africa. His focus spans growing the studio, building industry partnerships, and creating opportunities for the next generation of African game creators.
Michael Fagbemi
Head of Games
Michael leads game development at Maliyo Games, guiding projects from initial concept through production and release. He brings creative and technical teams together to deliver engaging player experiences, with a focus on gameplay, quality, and execution.
Christopher Adomako Jnr
Head of Product
Christopher leads product strategy and delivery at Maliyo Games, translating user needs and business goals into clear priorities. He works across design, engineering, and content to guide product development, improve user experiences, and support the growth of the studio’s games and learning platforms.
Michele Cavalotti
Lead Artist
Michelle leads the visual development of Maliyo Games’ titles, shaping the characters, environments, and artwork that bring each game to life. She guides the artistic direction and consistency of projects, working closely with designers and developers to create expressive, cohesive game worlds.
Chinyelu Akpa
Head of Growth & Partnership
Chinyelu leads growth and partnership efforts at Maliyo Games, connecting the studio’s games and programmes with new audiences and collaborators. Her focus is on building relationships, expanding the studio’s reach, and creating opportunities that support its games, talent initiatives, and wider community.
Kieran Reid
Head of Learning & Research
Kieran leads learning and research at Maliyo Games, shaping programmes that help aspiring creators develop practical game development skills. He connects curriculum design, learner insights, and industry needs to strengthen learning experiences and help emerging talent prepare for work in games.
In the media
As featured in.
This startup is leveling up Africa’s gaming industry
Read on CNN
Look Who’s Winning: Africa’s Gaming Sector Levels Up
Read on Forbes Africa
Hugo Obi, pionnier du jeu vidéo mobile made in Africa
Read on France 24
Africa wants to make its own games. Building them is still the hard part
Read on TechCabal
African games industry has moved from potential to production, says Maliyo CEO Hugo Obi
Read on PocketGamer.biz
Where are the video games from Africa?
Read on DW
A FarmVille for Africa
Read on BBC
Africa takes aim at the video game market
Read on Le Monde
Let’s talk
Let’s make something extraordinary.
Have a game to build, a partnership to explore, or an idea worth bringing to life? We’d love to hear from you. Building the best GameDev team in Africa. Do you have what it takes?