The first ever Afro emoticons have recently been launched by a Mauritius-based app company. Called "Oju," which translates to "faces" in the Nigerian Yoruba language, the icons are meant to tackle a lack of racial diversity in mobile characters.
Driving diversity —
The first ever Afro emoticons have recently been launched by a Mauritius-based app company. Called "Oju," which translates to "faces" in the Nigerian Yoruba language, the icons are meant to tackle a lack of racial diversity in mobile characters.
Courtesy Oju Africa
The emoticons have been designed to be used across all Android platforms and will shortly be released on iOS.
Leaping ahead —
The emoticons have been designed to be used across all Android platforms and will shortly be released on iOS.
Courtesy Oju Africa
The move came after celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Tahj Mowry petitioned Apple to update its emoji characters. Oju Africa had been working on their version since 2012, but decided to release them early after the hashtag #EmojiEthnicityUpdate started trending on Twitter.
The power of social —
The move came after celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Tahj Mowry petitioned Apple to update its emoji characters. Oju Africa had been working on their version since 2012, but decided to release them early after the hashtag #EmojiEthnicityUpdate started trending on Twitter.
Courtsey Oju Africa
CEO Alpesh Patel, pictured above, told CNN: "It's very important for us, as a small African company, to make it known to the world that we were the first to do it."
Beating competition —
CEO Alpesh Patel, pictured above, told CNN: "It's very important for us, as a small African company, to make it known to the world that we were the first to do it."
Courtesy OJU Africa
Oju Africa was officially launched at event in Johannesburg, South Africa, shown above, and has so far had 16,000 downloads, mainly from the U.S.
Going across borders —
Oju Africa was officially launched at event in Johannesburg, South Africa, shown above, and has so far had 16,000 downloads, mainly from the U.S.
Courtsey Oju Africa
Patel says that he wants Oju to become an iconic African logo, in the manner of Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty : "If you look at the main logo with the tongue sticking out, he's a cheeky, very friendly, cool African character that also works in digital by the smilie, but also in non-digital by traditional character licensing." Patel wants to see it stamped on cereal packers, nappies and even made into toys.
Creating a brand —
Patel says that he wants Oju to become an iconic African logo, in the manner of Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty : "If you look at the main logo with the tongue sticking out, he's a cheeky, very friendly, cool African character that also works in digital by the smilie, but also in non-digital by traditional character licensing." Patel wants to see it stamped on cereal packers, nappies and even made into toys.
Courtesy Oju Africa
He adds that the company wanted to include Africa in all digital trends, and show that innovation is not something that only happens in the West: "With the Oju Africa emoticons, we are sharing African soul, funk and unparalleled smiles with the world," he explains.
Changing the narrative —
He adds that the company wanted to include Africa in all digital trends, and show that innovation is not something that only happens in the West: "With the Oju Africa emoticons, we are sharing African soul, funk and unparalleled smiles with the world," he explains.
Courtesy Oju Africa