Max Musau banner
Max Musau Avatar

Jiwe Studio Profile

Max Musau

@snape254

Prime Maker and Gamer Visit my portfolio @www.jiwe.studio Thinking about Esports and AI

3 followers0 followingJoined 6 years ago

Games

Studio Catalogue

3 published titles

Game Jams

Jams Organised

5 jams

  • Dhala Corner 2026: Building the Future of African Play artwork
    GAME JAMUpcomingRegistration open

    Dhala Corner 2026: Building the Future of African Play

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Sep 22, 2026 - Oct 8, 2026

    Dala Corner is the dedicated gaming arcade at the 13th Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival. This year, under the theme African Imaginaries, we are transforming the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct into a living laboratory of African digital culture. We aren't just exhibiting games—we are building the systems that allow African ideas to move from possibility to practice. The Opportunity: Jiwe IO is partnering with the Fak’ugesi Festival to power the Dala Corner showcase. We are inviting African game developers and studios to submit projects that define the multiplayer and social landscape of the continent. Whether you are building competitive e-sports titles, cooperative adventures, party games, or experimental multiplayer prototypes, we want your work to be visible, playable, and public. What We Are Looking For: We are focused on games that bring people together. Your project is eligible if it: Focuses on Multiplayer/Social play: Including local, online, competitive, cooperative, or experimental social experiences. Is in any development stage: Prototypes, vertical slices, alpha/beta, and works-in-progress are welcome, provided they are stable enough for a live public environment. Represents African Innovation: We are looking for the unique voices, styles, and stories shaping the African gaming ecosystem. What Selected Developers Receive: Physical Showcase Position: A featured station at the Dala Corner Arcade at Tshimologong (October 13–17, 2026). Audience Engagement: Direct playtesting and feedback from festival attendees, industry professionals, and researchers. Award Eligibility: All showcase participants are eligible for the Jiwe IO Multiplayer Prototype of the Year award, featuring a US$200 development grant and continued platform visibility. Ecosystem Access: Connection to the wider Fak’ugesi community of technologists, artists, and innovators. Key Dates: Submission Deadline: October 2, 2026 Selection & Setup: October 8–13, 2026 Festival Showcase: October 14–17, 2026 Ready to build? Submit your project below to be considered for a physical showcase position. There is no submission fee. Let’s show the world what the continent is building.

    7 Participants
  • Fireside Chat - Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Fireside Chat - Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Jun 6, 2025 - Jun 6, 2025

    Friday Event Schedule --- Theme: Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games Doors Open — 4:00 PM Kick off with early activities, meet-and-greets, and gaming zones. --- Fireside Chat — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Special Guests: 🎙️ Estelle Mwangi – Valorant Music Creator 🎮 Eyram Tawia – Co-creator of Astra (Valorant), Leti Arts, Ghana Leads: James Ahere & Immaculate Session Format: 5:00 PM – Guest Talk 1 (30 min) 5:30 PM – Q&A Session (15 min) 5:45 PM – Break (10 min) 5:55 PM – Guest Talk 2 (30 min) 6:25 PM – Q&A Session (15 min) 6:40 PM – Final Remarks & Transition --- Highlights: Eyram will share the story behind Astra, the African Valorant agent. Estelle will discusses composing music for Valorant and how she brought its sonic world to life. --- Pop-Up Cosplay Showcase — 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Celebrate cosplay from African-themed games, especially: ✨ Riziki ✨ USAWA Showcase starts at 8:00 PM, but come early to catch the buildup, photos, and community hype! Rewards for the best dressed cosplayer will be available!

    14 Participants
  • Jiwe Community 48hr Game Jam artwork
    GAME JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Jiwe Community 48hr Game Jam

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Jun 6, 2025 - Jun 9, 2025

    The Jiwe Community Game Jams is the final celebration of a two-month journey exploring game development, creativity, and innovation across Africa. We’re bringing together 50+ developers for a hybrid 48-hour event designed to produce 25+ playable prototypes. This is more than a game jam—it’s an acceleration launchpad for Africa’s next generation of interactive experiences. Format: Hybrid (Discord + physical hubs across Africa) - Nairobi, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa Goal: Build 50 high-quality game prototypes by end of 2025 ---- Game Jam Themes: -Musical Games – Mechanics tied to rhythm, audio-driven storytelling, adaptive sound design, sound driven games designed for accessibility or visually the visually impared -Web Hyper Casual Games – Addictive, easy-to-play, high-retention mechanics -Anti-Slavery Games – Narrative-driven, historically grounded or speculative games dealing with liberation, agency, and resistance ---- Over $6,000 worth of prizes and support, including: -Cash tokens for winners in each theme -3-month incubation at a leading African game studio -User acquisition credits after incubation on Gara Store -Fast-track into the Mobile Pioneers Program by SpielFabrique and Voodoo (Hyper Casual category winner only) Plus: If you're based in Nairobi, the Nairobi Game Development Center will offer workspace for the full 3-month incubation period — a dedicated home to build your game to the next level! ---- Event Schedule - Under Resources Tab

    37 Participants
  • Workshop: Developing AI-Driven Cars in Unreal Engine artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Workshop: Developing AI-Driven Cars in Unreal Engine

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Apr 24, 2025 - Apr 24, 2025

    🚗 Workshop: Developing AI-Driven Cars in Unreal Engine Presented by Ian Okinda Join us for an exciting and immersive Unreal Technical Workshop where you'll learn how to build AI-driven cars and dynamic gameplay using Unreal Engine. This hands-on session is perfect for game developers and tech enthusiasts looking to enhance their skills in AI and game development. 🗓 Date: Thursday, 25th April 2025 🕖 Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EAT 📍 Location: Hybrid – Join via Discord or in-person at Westlands The Mall, Basement, Santuri Salon In this workshop, you’ll: 1) Hear about Ian's work on the games he has worked on 2) Explore the power of Unreal Engine for vehicle simulation 3) Get step-by-step guidance on implementing AI behaviors in vehicles 4) Engage on how to develop stunning matatu-style designs 5) Engage with an expert developer and network with the game dev community This event is powered by Unreal Engine, the Nairobi Game Development Center, and Africa Comicade.

    8 Participants
  • Jiwe Jams - Developer Talk: African Folklore in Games artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Jiwe Jams - Developer Talk: African Folklore in Games

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Apr 10, 2025 - Apr 10, 2025

    🎮 Developer Talk: African Folklore in Games 🗓 Thursday, April 10, 2025 🕖 7:00 PM EAT | ⏱️ 1 hour 📍 Live on Jiwe’s Discord 🎤 Hosted by Wesley Kanyeria Join us for an exciting Developer Talk featuring a panel of leading African game developers who are weaving rich folklore into interactive experiences. We’ll explore how oral traditions, ancestral myths, and local legends are being reimagined through games—why these stories matter, and how they come to life in code, art, and gameplay. Panelists: 🇰🇪 Arnold Mwanjila (Kenya) – African Legends 🇿🇦 Khumo Moerane (South Africa) – Khamani and the Arena of the Gods 🇬🇭 Robertson Nortey (Ghana) – Sweave by Leti Arts Expect case studies, storytelling insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and technical process of building folklore-based games. Let’s build the future of African storytelling in games!

    12 Participants

Game Jams

Jams Participated In

9 jams

  • PlayLabs Game Jam artwork
    GAME JAMEndedRegistration closed

    PlayLabs Game Jam

    Hosted by Kamogelo Makhoba

    Nov 30, 2025 - Dec 10, 2025

    This exciting cross-disciplinary creative jam will bring together students, independent creators, and individuals from fields like design, storytelling, architecture, cultural heritage, and technology. Over the course of three days, you will collaborate to create innovative, playful projects that explore the intersections of culture, storytelling, and interactive media.

    9 Participants
  • Fireside Chat - Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Fireside Chat - Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Jun 6, 2025 - Jun 6, 2025

    Friday Event Schedule --- Theme: Bringing African Creativity to Life in Global Games Doors Open — 4:00 PM Kick off with early activities, meet-and-greets, and gaming zones. --- Fireside Chat — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Special Guests: 🎙️ Estelle Mwangi – Valorant Music Creator 🎮 Eyram Tawia – Co-creator of Astra (Valorant), Leti Arts, Ghana Leads: James Ahere & Immaculate Session Format: 5:00 PM – Guest Talk 1 (30 min) 5:30 PM – Q&A Session (15 min) 5:45 PM – Break (10 min) 5:55 PM – Guest Talk 2 (30 min) 6:25 PM – Q&A Session (15 min) 6:40 PM – Final Remarks & Transition --- Highlights: Eyram will share the story behind Astra, the African Valorant agent. Estelle will discusses composing music for Valorant and how she brought its sonic world to life. --- Pop-Up Cosplay Showcase — 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Celebrate cosplay from African-themed games, especially: ✨ Riziki ✨ USAWA Showcase starts at 8:00 PM, but come early to catch the buildup, photos, and community hype! Rewards for the best dressed cosplayer will be available!

    14 Participants
  • Jiwe Community 48hr Game Jam artwork
    GAME JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Jiwe Community 48hr Game Jam

    Hosted by Max Musau

    Jun 6, 2025 - Jun 9, 2025

    The Jiwe Community Game Jams is the final celebration of a two-month journey exploring game development, creativity, and innovation across Africa. We’re bringing together 50+ developers for a hybrid 48-hour event designed to produce 25+ playable prototypes. This is more than a game jam—it’s an acceleration launchpad for Africa’s next generation of interactive experiences. Format: Hybrid (Discord + physical hubs across Africa) - Nairobi, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa Goal: Build 50 high-quality game prototypes by end of 2025 ---- Game Jam Themes: -Musical Games – Mechanics tied to rhythm, audio-driven storytelling, adaptive sound design, sound driven games designed for accessibility or visually the visually impared -Web Hyper Casual Games – Addictive, easy-to-play, high-retention mechanics -Anti-Slavery Games – Narrative-driven, historically grounded or speculative games dealing with liberation, agency, and resistance ---- Over $6,000 worth of prizes and support, including: -Cash tokens for winners in each theme -3-month incubation at a leading African game studio -User acquisition credits after incubation on Gara Store -Fast-track into the Mobile Pioneers Program by SpielFabrique and Voodoo (Hyper Casual category winner only) Plus: If you're based in Nairobi, the Nairobi Game Development Center will offer workspace for the full 3-month incubation period — a dedicated home to build your game to the next level! ---- Event Schedule - Under Resources Tab

    37 Participants
  • Workshop: Visual Game Design – A Hangman’s Perspective artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Workshop: Visual Game Design – A Hangman’s Perspective

    Hosted by FAITH ADISA

    May 22, 2025 - May 22, 2025

    🎮 Workshop: Visual Game Design – A Hangman’s Perspective📅 Thursday, 22 May 2025 🕖 7 PM – 8 PM EAT 6 PM – 7 PM SAST 5 PM – 6 PM WAT📍 Hybrid Session – live on Discord & in-person at Santuri Salon, Basement, The Mall, Westlands, Nairobi KenyaSharpen your artistic edge and learn how the “hangman’s view” can transform the way you frame characters, craft suspense, and guide a player’s eye through a scene. Perfect for game developers, concept artists, level designers, and anyone curious about the storytelling power of visuals.We will explore: Framing & composition tricks that hook players instantly Using light, shadow, and negative space to build tension Rapid blocking methods for cinematic level layouts Possibly direct case studies from iconic titles

    25 Participants
  • WORKSHOP: USING MUSIC TO ANIMATE 3D ENVIRONMENTS  artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    WORKSHOP: USING MUSIC TO ANIMATE 3D ENVIRONMENTS

    Hosted by FAITH ADISA

    May 15, 2025 - May 12, 2025

    🎵 Workshop: Using Music to Animate 3D Environments 📅 Thursday, 15th May 2025 | 🕖 7 PM – 8 PM EAT 📍 Hybrid Session – Online (Discord) & In Person at Santuri Salon, The Mall, Westlands Dive into the mesmerizing fusion of sound and visuals! Join us for an immersive workshop exploring how music can breathe life into 3D environments. Whether you're a game developer, animator, musician, or just passionate about interactive art, this session will unlock creative techniques to sync audio with dynamic 3D worlds. 🎶 What to expect: - Techniques for procedural animation driven by music - Tools & workflows for real-time audio-reactive environments Don’t miss this chance to blend rhythm and motion bring your creativity and let’s animate the soundscape together!

    13 Participants
  • Developer Talk: Unity Roadmap, Opportunities & Getting Started with Unity AI With MUSE  artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Developer Talk: Unity Roadmap, Opportunities & Getting Started with Unity AI With MUSE

    Hosted by FAITH ADISA

    May 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025

    We have an exciting event coming up this Thursday, 1st May! We have the Unity team joining us to discuss opportunities, the Unity Road Map and getting started with the Unity AI tools (Muse)! Do not miss out on hearing directly from the Unity Team!! 🗓 Thursday, May 1st, 2025 🕖 7:30 PM EAT | ⏱ 1hr 📍 Online | Hosted by the Jiwe Game Jams Community Register now at: (https://jiwe.io/game-jams) The developer talk will be led by Manuel Sainsily from Unity-- Artist, Futurist, and Unity Advocate, he talk about the opportunities and the Unity Roadmap as well as he showcasing Unity’s latest AI capabilities for game development. Discover how tools like Unity Muse can help you turn ideas into prototypes faster, making your development process smooth and efficient. If you're passionate about the future of AI in games, you don't want to miss this!

    18 Participants
  • Workshop: Building Social Impact Games artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Workshop: Building Social Impact Games

    Hosted by FAITH ADISA

    Apr 17, 2025 - Apr 17, 2025

    🎮 Workshop: Building Social Impact Games 🗓 Thursday, April 17, 2025 🕖 7:00 PM EAT | ⏱️ 1 hour 📍 Hybrid Event: Live on Discord and Physically location at Jiwe Studio at The Mall, Westlands 🎤 Hosted by the Jiwe Game Jams Community Dive into the art of crafting games that drive change! This workshop focuses on designing meaningful narratives and amplifying community voices in game development. Learn from local innovators shaping impactful African stories through games like Death Valley, Taji, and HIRU. Discover how culturally grounded design and social themes can turn gameplay into a powerful storytelling tool. #Letsbuildgamesthatmatter #JiweGameJams #AfricanGaming #IndieDevAfrica #FolkloreInGames #GameDevCommunity #StorytellingThroughGames #JiweCommunity

    14 Participants
  • Creator Sessions (With Rowdy Rebels)  artwork
    GAME JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Creator Sessions (With Rowdy Rebels)

    Hosted by Wesley Theuri

    Feb 6, 2025 - Feb 8, 2025

    This Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, from 5 PM to 6 PM, the creators of Ruka, winners of Best Gameplay and Game Design at the Global Game Jam held at the Nairobi Game Development Center, will be live on our Jiwe Community Discord! 🎮✨ Get exclusive insights into their creative process and how they brought their award-winning game to life. Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired!

    4 Participants
  • Learning Jam on Ruka artwork
    LEARNING JAMEndedRegistration closed

    Learning Jam on Ruka

    Hosted by Wesley Theuri

    Feb 5, 2025 - Feb 5, 2025

    This Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, from 5 PM to 6 PM, the creators of Ruka, winners of Best Gameplay and Game Design at the Global Game Jam held at the Nairobi Game Development Center, will be live on our Jiwe Community Discord! 🎮✨ Get exclusive insights into their creative process and how they brought their award-winning game to life. Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired!

    10 Participants