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And for those who build the game worlds themselves

Some play the game, some make it. And Dubai-based Kanessa Muluneh is in the second category. The founder of Rise of Fearless, Muluneh’s pride in her newly-launched Battle Royale game echoes through our conversation. The idea took root on her TikTok channel and gradually developed as she decided to zero in on the Battle of Adwa, a historic chapter in Ethiopian history, where Africa emerged as the victor against Italian colonialism. Muluneh stresses that this is more than just a game: “It’s designed as a platform for empowerment. Players can earn as they play, and my focus is especially on young people. In many parts of Africa, opportunities often feel distant or inaccessible. With this project, I want to unlock doors that many never imagined were within reach,” she says.

So what happens in the game? Players buy, sell and trade in-game assets. Moreover, the elements in the game promise to also help income-generating activities, for those across the continent. Her plans don’t stop there: She wishes to take this forward, and foster more engagement and knowledge among communities.

Kanessa Muluneh, the founder of Rise of Fearless