When the texture of your hair becomes a political act, even in pixels.
For decades, video games have failed to reflect the diversity of the real world, especially when it comes to Black characters. From limited skin tones to lazy stereotypes and missing hair textures, the issue goes beyond cosmetics: it’s about visibility, agency, and imagination.
This session takes a deep dive into a game-changing initiative: the Open-Source Afro Hair Library, created by A.M. Darke, a free, artist-led database and toolset designed to equip developers and animators with accurate, respectful and joyful representations of afro-textured hair.
Using this project as a central case study, we’ll explore how Black creators are pushing the boundaries of representation in video games, from character design to storytelling, from representation to new imaginaries. It’s not just about what characters look like, it’s about who gets to design them.
Speakers:
- Jennifer LUFAU, founder [AFROGAMEUSES (FR)]
- Dina VALISOA, Narrative & Level Designer [Co-fondatrice de RED RAKETA STUDIO (Madagascar)]
Moderator : Mickaël NEWTON, Social Impact Manager [UBISOFT (FR)]
Crédit photo de bannière : ©Culture.SIPA
Capacity: 200-250 people
