WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 22, 2026
From Play to Conservation: Leveraging Video Games and Artificial
Intelligence for Eco-Cultural Emancipation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: , , , , , ,
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Abstract: 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.
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Ecological Education, Indigenous
Knowledge, Video Games (VG), Participatory Learning, Contextualized ecological solutions
Pages: 366-383
DOI: 10.37394/232015.2026.22.30