A new video game titled "Relooted," developed by the South African studio Nyamakop and released on February 10, presents a playful yet politically charged take on the global debate surrounding the restitution of African artifacts. Set in the late 21st century, the game imagines a scenario where political powers have agreed to return genuine African artifacts held in Western museums. However, these institutions covertly remove items from public display to avoid their repatriation, prompting a team of heroes from various African countries to embark on a "rescue mission" to discreetly reclaim 70 specific artifacts.

The game's narrative revolves around a core question: "But is it really theft if it was already stolen?" This premise challenges traditional notions of ownership and justice, positioning the players not as thieves but as restorers of heritage. Among the significant items players are tasked with recovering are a Yehoti mask from Burkina Faso, Congolese ishango sticks, and a Ngadji drum from Kenya, drawing direct parallels to real-world cultural treasures whose origins are often debated.

Beyond its provocative political themes, the creators of "Relooted" emphasized the importance of authentic African and Afro-descendant representation within the predominantly white video game industry. Co-founder Ben Myres stated that it was crucial for the characters to be Black and African, as they are on a quest to recover Black African heritage. The studio meticulously designed diverse characters from across the continent, incorporating specific regional and ethnic details, such as a Cameroonian character with a francophone African accent and an Angolan character with an English-African accent, to foster deep authenticity.

Special attention was also paid to the game's musical score. Myres highlighted the deliberate exclusion of Western instruments, symphonies, and orchestras commonly found in video games. Instead, "Relooted" features a soundtrack composed solely of traditional African instruments combined with modern synthesizers. This artistic choice aims to celebrate the magnificence and profound interest of African culture, offering the game as an entry point for a global audience to learn more about the continent and its diverse cultures.

Sithe Ncube, the game's producer, views the very act of telling stories written by Africans for a global audience as a form of activism. She noted the persistent challenge for African developers to compete with larger Western studios and the historical lack of authentic representation of African stories, experiences, and art in the gaming industry. Despite its message of empowerment, "Relooted" has not been without controversy, sparking debate since its free trial release. Some players have accused the developers of racism, arguing that portraying African characters as "thieves" is counterproductive.

However, Ncube also underscores the game's educational potential, offering an excellent opportunity for players to discover or rediscover the history of real artifacts, many of which are currently housed in prominent institutions like the British Museum or the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. The statistics are stark: globally, over 85 percent of African heritage is located outside the continent, with an estimated 90,000 objects from sub-Saharan Africa alone residing in French museums.

The issue of cultural restitution has gained significant political traction in recent years. French President Emmanuel Macron's pledge during a 2017 visit to Burkina Faso to return "African heritage to Africa" within five years set a precedent, encouraging other former colonial powers, including Belgium and Germany, to launch similar repatriation initiatives. "Relooted" thus taps into a timely and complex political topic, using the medium of gaming to engage with historical injustices and ongoing efforts for cultural decolonization.