On October 15–16, 2025, the Maliyo Games team joined innovators, startups, and investors at Moonshot by TechCabal, a two-day fintech and technology innovation event held at Landmark Centre, Lagos. From 10 AM to 6 PM each day, the venue buzzed with ideas about the future of Africa’s digital economy and right at the heart of it, our booth brought something refreshingly different: fun, creativity, and African storytelling through games. 🎮
While Moonshot’s audience leaned heavily toward fintech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors, our goal was clear — to showcase Safari City, launch the Safari City x Moonshot Challenge, and remind everyone that play is a powerful part of innovation.
A Weekend of Fun Meets Innovation
We came to introduce Safari City to new audiences and highlight Maliyo’s mission: creating culturally authentic, high-quality African gaming experiences.
Our booth quickly became the fun zone of the event — a vibrant contrast to the serious tone of business conversations happening around us.
From live game demos to our spin-the-wheel challenge, attendees stopped by to play, laugh, and connect. The colourful booth, prizes, and energy made Maliyo one of the most talked-about exhibitors of the weekend.
The Safari City x Moonshot Challenge
At the centre of our activation was the Safari City x Moonshot Challenge — a limited-time, in-game event where players competed across 25 exclusive Match-3 levels to collect special M Tokens and climb the leaderboard for a chance to win a brand-new smartphone.
The challenge was designed to merge gaming excitement with strategic skill.
Players had to keep their streak alive — losing a level meant starting over and losing all their tokens. It was tough, fast-paced, and incredibly fun to watch!
What made the challenge special was its accessibility: attendees at Moonshot could play live at the booth, while players across Nigeria joined online to compete in real-time.
The result? Laughter, tension, and celebration as players pushed for the top spot.
The leaderboard (see below) captured the spirit of competition and creativity that Maliyo Games brings to every experience.
Bringing Colour to the Tech Space
The Maliyo booth stood out for all the right reasons — bright, bold, and impossible to miss. Visitors were invited to download Safari City, play a few levels, and spin the prize wheel for exclusive Maliyo merchandise, including T-shirts, tote bags, and stickers.
Even though many attendees weren’t gamers by default, their reactions were pure excitement and pride. Several expressed surprise that a Nigerian studio had created such a polished, relatable, and technically solid game. For many, Safari City was their first time experiencing African storytelling in a fun, interactive format.
The Power of Play and Representation
Beyond the giveaways, something deeper happened: conversation.
We spoke with founders, investors, and professionals curious about how gaming fits into Africa’s fast-evolving digital landscape. Many left with a new appreciation for games — not just as entertainment, but as storytelling, education, and cultural export.
Playing Safari City on larger screens added another layer of excitement. Watching Lagos-inspired streets, markets, and characters come alive in that scale reminded everyone of how African stories can shine when told through the right medium.
Key Takeaways
🌍 Visibility Beyond Gaming:
Moonshot connected us with a new audience — the corporate and innovation community — showing that gaming belongs in broader conversations about Africa’s tech ecosystem.
🎮 Interactive Experiences Drive Engagement:
Our spin wheel and live demos drew huge attention and left visitors smiling.
💡 Cultural Pride:
Seeing Safari City developed locally gave attendees a renewed sense of pride and belief in African creative talent.
Looking Ahead
Moonshot 2025 reinforced what we’ve always believed: play has a place in every innovation story.
While it wasn’t a purely gaming-focused event, it expanded Maliyo’s reach, created new partnerships, and strengthened our visibility within Nigeria’s wider tech ecosystem.
At Maliyo Games, we’ll keep building worlds that celebrate African creativity — one game, one player, and one story at a time.
Here’s to more opportunities, more visibility, and more momentum for African gaming. 🚀
#MaliyoGames #SafariCity #AfricanGaming #Moonshot2025 #BuildingMomentum #MadeInAfrica #TechInAfrica
