About Us
About ZERA
ZERA is more than a card game. It is a movement to reimagine Emotional Intelligence (EI) through the timeless lens of African proverbs, cultural wisdom, and intergenerational storytelling. While most EI tools are rooted in Western psychology and corporate frameworks, ZERA introduces an approach that is culturally inclusive, deeply relational, and universally accessible.
At the heart of ZERA are 150 carefully curated proverbs from across African nations and the diaspora, each mapped to one of the five pillars of EI: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Empathy, Social Skills, and Motivation. These proverbs are not abstract sayings, they are lived wisdom, tested through centuries of community life, resilience, and adaptation. By engaging with them, players experience EI in a way that is not only intellectual but also spiritual, cultural, and communal.
Why Our Approach is Unique
- Cultural Roots with Global Reach: ZERA integrates African wisdom into EI practice, bridging ancestral knowledge with modern psychological frameworks. This creates a culturally grounded model of EI that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Accessible for All Settings: Unlike many EI tools designed only for professionals or corporate teams, ZERA can be played in living rooms, classrooms, therapy sessions, and boardrooms alike, making EI development fun, engaging, and non-intimidating.
- Intergenerational and Community-Oriented: African traditions value collective growth. ZERA reflects this by fostering dialogue across generations, strengthening family ties, and encouraging community-based learning.
African-Inspired Emotional intelligence in Action
1. Self-Awareness
The Ethiopian proverb “When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth” teaches us to recognize that our words are mirrors of our emotions. In EI, this fosters mindfulness about how feelings shape communication.
2. Self-Regulation
A Swahili saying, “Patience attracts blessings,” reminds players that emotional restraint and thoughtful pauses can lead to better outcomes, directly reinforcing EI practices of impulse control and resilience.
3. Motivation
From Nigeria, “However long the night, the dawn will break” offers hope and persistence in challenging times, linking directly to EI’s focus on optimism and goal-driven behavior.
4. Empathy
The Ghanaian proverb “The family is like the forest — if you are outside it is dense, if you are inside you see that each tree has its place” encourages players to see beyond the surface of others’ emotions, nurturing deeper understanding and compassion.
5. Social Skills
A South African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” underscores collaboration and collective achievement, core to building strong relationships and networks.
Transformative Gains for Players
By engaging with ZERA, individuals and groups can expect to:
- Strengthen self-awareness by reflecting on universal truths through cultural wisdom.
- Cultivate resilience and emotional regulation through time-tested lessons in patience and balance.
- Enhance empathy and compassion, improving communication and reducing conflict in personal and professional settings.
- Build social skills by engaging in collaborative reflection and discussion.
- Deepen motivation and optimism, turning setbacks into stepping stones for growth.
Setting Us Apart
Most EI tools rely heavily on assessments, workshops, or text-based learning. ZERA stands apart because it transforms EI into an experiential, playful, and culturally inclusive journey. It does not just teach Emotional Intelligence, it plants seeds of wisdom that grow in conversations, relationships, and communities long after the game is over.
ZERA is where cultural heritage meets emotional growth, offering players not only a game but a transformative practice that can shift how they see themselves, others, and the world.