Eyram Tawia is the co-founder and CEO of Leti Arts, a pioneering game development company based in Africa. With over 20 years in the African video games industry, Eyram is committed to showcasing Africa’s rich cultural diversity through world-class games and comics, all while developing the African gaming industry. He is convinced that Africa has a salient contribution to make to the world of game development and that the ensuing job opportunities will boost Africa economically.
Eyram’s work in the gaming sector has earned him several recognition across the gaming industry positioning Leti Arts as a strategic partner to on gamification projects and consultancies with several global companies including USAID, UNDP, Riot Games, Jhpiego, AU, GIZ and many more. Eyram is a frequent speaker at international game conferences, sharing his insights on the growing African gaming industry and its potential on cultural preservation. He also lectures on Game Design at Ashesi University, where he champions one of the first game development elective courses in Ghana. Through internship programs and university collaborations, Leti Arts has empowered over 800 individuals to explore and develop careers in the video game industry.
Eyram is the author of Uncompromising Passion, a book that chronicles his journey as an African video game developer and has also some co-authored academic publications to his credit. His educational background includes a BSc in Computer Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as additional studies in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership at Dartmouth College as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Eyram's achievements include several prestigious awards, such as the British Council YCE Award, Vodafone Global Appstar Award, World Summit Award and many others and has been featured on several global media platforms including CNN, BBC, TedX, Forbes, Fast Company and many others.
Political Communities and Gamification: Playing Politics and In/Exclusion
Principal Supervisor: Prof S Mills
Secondary Supervisor: Prof DN Deacon
Eyram Tawia’s PhD research, investigates how gamification can serve as a powerful tool for political participation, education, and the creation of inclusive political communities. Eyram’s vision is rooted in the belief that gamification can democratize political engagement by making it more accessible, while also addressing the challenges of exclusion in civic participation. His research will critically examine how game-design elements can be used in political discourse to increase voter turnout, promote civic participation, and simplify complex political issues for diverse audiences. Eyram’s work also investigates the role of gamification in public outreach and educational campaigns, particularly within non-governmental organizations. He analyzes successful examples to provide insights into how these tools can transform political behaviors and attitudes. His research will highlight the potential of gaming and storytelling, particularly through African superhero narratives, as tools to amplify marginalized voices and educate diverse populations. Eyram’s research ultimately seeks to create a framework where political participation is an engaging and inclusive journey, utilizing the universal language of gaming to build informed and empowered political communities, particularly in Africa’s vibrant and diverse context.