(New York, NY– March 7, 2022) Aurion: Legacy of the Kori Odan, written by award-winning video game developer, Olivier Madiba gives youth an opportunity to explore African history independent of the gaze of oppression and colonization.
Lava Stream, in partnership with Maureen Tokeson-Martin, CEO of Blaq Mint/Blaq App, has partnered to provide robust educational resources and media for the youth of color in Canada. In celebrating Black History Month there was a desire to provide material that was free of trauma, oppression, and colonization.
Miramichi-based Lava Stream media has tuned their mission to use media to bridge the gap between the rest of the world and its racially marginalized groups whose culture and history are relatively unknown to many, by bringing the Aurion graphic novel series to classrooms in Alberta and across Canada. The graphic novel series will be used to enhance the curriculum and, offer a narrative of the African experience independent of colonialism and related oppression and trauma. The characters in the series are on a self-actualization path.
Ronald Sharpe of Lava Stream says, “Maureen Tokeson-Martin, a producer/screenwriter and CEO of Blaq App, brought Aurion to our attention and we immediately saw an opportunity to partner in bringing the series to Canadian school students and the larger North American audience.”
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is set on the planet of Auriona, which is based upon the cultures of Africa. African music, fashion, and myths are used as inspiration. Monsters from various myths are featured as enemies. It’s a conflict analogy to the general African history about the quest for independence, the new colonization, but not from a victim’s point of view that the problem is always the fault of others. . That’s what the game is talking about most, even if it’s on another planet, in another world.”
The different cultures in Aurion have suffered through a horrible history together. “In Aurion, with the story scenario, there’s a symbolic analogy between the trials of Enzo and Erine and the common history of Africa and our place in the stakes of the world,” said Madiba. The game takes inspiration from several African cultures: the announcement trailer was dubbed in the Bassa dialect; Enzo’s battle gear is inspired by Maasai clothing: and the outfits of non-player characters are inspired by many African people like the Tuareg, the Yoruba, the Fula, and others. The game focuses on working together a Kiro’o Games wants to “unify and transmit African culture by combining myths, tales, and values” in hopes that African influences will inspire other creations. Aurion is a new refreshing story for readers who are trying to discover more about Africa.
Lava Stream’s first printing sold out almost immediately to excited Alberta educators. The Canadian edition of the graphic novel includes an educational insert and a curriculum that covers literature, English comprehension, and art.
“Ed Pub Local 37 is thrilled to share the graphic novel Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan with teachers in our school division as a Black History Month resource. This positive representation of African mythology reflects true Black History.” Gail-Ann Wilson (Professional Development Chair)…..
For more information on Aurion’s Canadian scholastic version, go to …..https://www.lavastreammedia.com/buy-aurion/
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