From Play to Conservation: Leveraging Video Games and Artificial Intelligence for Eco-Cultural Emancipation in Sub-Saharan Africa

This article examines the pedagogical potential of video games and artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering ecological literacy among secondary students in Sub-Saharan Africa. As mobile technologies and digital play become increasingly embedded in youth culture, these tools offer immersive and adaptive pathways to engage with pressing environmental challenges. Grounded in theories of flow and situated learning, the paper proposes a dual approach: using culturally resonant games to cultivate systems thinking and ethical reflection and leveraging AI to personalize ecological simulations and support context-sensitive learning. Design principles emphasize cultural relevance, infrastructure sensitivity, and alignment of ethical artificial intelligence. This article concludes with a research agenda aimed at mapping, testing, and evaluating game-based and AI-enhanced learning environments, inviting interdisciplinary collaboration to transform digital play into a tool for ecological preservation.