Tip: You can use the Lion below as a reference point, but your artwork must be your own original interpretation.
Reference
Create an original, wearable design inspired by the Lion’s meaning: knowledge, resilience, and pan-African excellence.
🦁 Discover the Lions Legacy
History of XamXam LIONZ
Across West Africa, a lion rose. Not just a mascot. Not just an esports team.
A symbol of knowledge, resilience, and pan-African excellence.
Born in Dakar in 2016 under the vision of GameCampCities, XamXamLIONZ (X2L) is Africa’s pioneering multidisciplinary esports and sports team. In 2018, it became the first African esports team to appear on Al Jazeera TV, marking a historic milestone for the continent’s gaming industry.
The team has qualified for Olympic-accredited events, including the Intel World Open (Tokyo 2020 esports showcase), and continues to bring African talent to the global stage. In 2025, XamXamLIONZ contributed tactical analysis and co-streaming to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, reinforcing its role as a continental leader in esports innovation.
⚡
Now, for the first time, we’re inviting artists to reinterpret the Lion.
This is your chance to turn African esports legacy into official licensed merchandise.
XamXamLIONZ stands as a decorated Pan-African organization, bridging esports, Olympic disciplines, and cultural impact—an emblem of Africa’s rise in the global competitive arena.
If your design captures the Lion’s meaning and makes it wearable, you’re in the right contest.
XamXamLIONZ Team Spotlight
Meet the athletes and leaders behind the Lion. These are the people your art will represent when it becomes official.
French-born Togolese slalom canoeist who competed at the international level from 2003 to 2012. Competing in three Summer Olympics, Boukpeti won a bronze medal in the K1 event in Beijing in 2008, and remains Togo's first and only Olympic medalist. He is the official captain of the X2 team and co-owner
New addition strengthening XamXamLIONZ performance roster
Focused on high level competitive consistency
Darlix Confort Rachel NDUKUE
Women Basketball 3x3Africa Vice ChampionDrealparis • FIBA Certified LeagueTogo
Drealsparis FIBA certif league 2023 vice champion 3*3 women's basketball
Active within Drealparis and FIBA certified league ecosystem
Represents elite competitive excellence and leadership
Jean Marie Wilfried Ivazza
SUPERBAKA 2.0Mobile Team CaptainGabon
Mobile Legends weekly MCL league champion
Captain presence and brand leader for mobile division
Certified in Metaverse Essentials powered by Meta
Arthur Tiemtore
X2L LAFUENTEEx CaptainBurkina Faso
Intel Tokyo Master , Esports event accredited by the Japan Olympic TOKYO 2020 ( Top 8 ( 79 ) Africa / MENA / South east Asia ) Street Fighter 5
International stage experience across multiple events
Competitive legacy and high performance leadership
Represents West Africa on global circuits
Kofi Sika Latzoo
Principal CoachOwnerTogo
Award winning & Pioneer esport Educator Microsoft game changer in edu award + Microsoft Esport Teacher academy certified owner
Leadership behind XamXamLIONZ development and growth
Built programs across multiple countries and titles
Producer and organizer across major esports activations
WHAT TO SUBMIT
We’re looking for original fan art inspired by XamXamLIONZ and the spirit of the Knowledge Lion.
Create designs that feel bold, iconic, wearable, and rooted in pan-African excellence.
AI-assisted artwork is accepted.
DRAW INSPIRATION FROM
The Knowledge Lion concept: intelligence, resilience, royalty, legacy, excellence
Pan-African symbolism and unity, cultural patterns, heritage references (done respectfully and originally)
Bold typography and wordmarks (original lettering only)
WHAT IS A PROTECTED DESIGN
You can absolutely create fan art inspired by XamXamLIONZ, but your work must be original.
Do not trace, recreate, or closely imitate existing logos, official lion artwork, player photos, brand marks, or third party game assets.
When in doubt: transform the idea, not the file.
OK
✓
Your own lion interpretation
NOT OK
✕
Too close to official lion
The Lion Artwork
OK: A new lion pose, face, silhouette, mane style, armor, patterns, or cultural motifs that you design from scratch.
NOT OK: Tracing the official lion, recreating the same pose and details, or doing a near identical redraw that reads as the same artwork.
OK
✓
Original crest and type
NOT OK
✕
Logo recreation
Logos and Wordmarks
OK: A new emblem, badge, or typography treatment inspired by the “Knowledge Lion” theme with your own shapes and lettering.
NOT OK: Copying the XamXamLIONZ logo, retyping the same mark, recreating exact shapes, or making “slight edits” to the official logo.
OK
✓
Stylized original player tribute
NOT OK
✕
Photo likeness copy
Players and People
OK: A stylized, transformative tribute that captures the energy of competition without copying an exact photo or face.
NOT OK: Directly using player photos, copying exact facial likeness, or recreating a specific promotional poster layout or portrait.
NOT OK: Using characters, maps, icons, UI elements, or recognizable branded assets from games or publishers.
Simple rule: If your design looks like it could be mistaken for official art, a logo redraw, or a game asset, it is probably too close.
Push for a fresh silhouette, new composition, and original detailing.
If it feels powerful, symbolic, and wearable, we want to see it.
FULL DETAILS AND GUIDELINES
Everything you need to submit artwork for the XamXamLIONZ Fan Art Licensing Contest.
Keep it original, keep it merch ready, and reinterpret the Lion in your style.
Quick reference
We are selecting 5 winning designs inspired by XamXamLIONZ.
Winners will be officially licensed and may be produced as merchandise.
Designs that reflect knowledge, resilience, pan African excellence
NOT ALLOWED
Copying existing artworks, key art, or stock assets
Recreating the official logo exactly (or using it as the main design)
Using trademarks, watermarks, or brand names you do not own
CHECK FIRST
Hate symbols, explicit sexual content, or extreme gore
Real world political messaging
Anything that could be confused as another esports team or brand
How it works
From submission to licensed merch and royalties.
Upload your original design inspired by XamXamLIONZ and the Lion symbolism. Include a short description of your concept.
We review for originality, merch readiness, and how strongly the design captures the Lion’s meaning and XamXamLIONZ spirit.
Top 5 winners are selected and contacted with next steps, including confirming print ready files and signing winner paperwork.
Winning designs are licensed and may be produced as merch. MOD manages mockups, product setup, manufacturing, and distribution.
Winners receive cash prizes based on placement and earn 5% royalties on merch sales for their winning design.
Prizes + royalties
Top 5 winners are licensed. $200 total prize pool + royalties for each winning design.
WINNERS
Top 5 designs selected and licensed
Artwork showcased on the contest page and MOD channels
Creator credit on product pages and promotions
Merch creation and fulfillment handled by MOD
CASH PRIZES + ROYALTIES
1st Place: $80 cash + 5% royalties
2nd Place: $50 cash + 5% royalties
3rd Place: $30 cash + 5% royalties
4th Place: $25 cash + 5% royalties
5th Place: $15 cash + 5% royalties
Royalties apply to merch sales for each winning design. Cash prizes total $200 USD.
Timeline
Key dates for this contest.
Contest begins: April 15, 2026
Contest ends: May 13, 2026
Winners announced: Shortly after the contest ends
Merch launch: After winner confirmation and print ready files
Contest rules
Summary rules to keep everything clean, fair, and licensable.
Submissions must be your original artwork
Your design must be inspired by XamXamLIONZ and the Lion symbolism
Keep it merch friendly and printable
Include a short description of your concept
No copying existing artworks, key art, or logos
No tracing or using stolen assets
No using the official XamXamLIONZ logo as the main design element
No hateful, explicit, or harmful content
Create designs that feel iconic and wearable. You can go bold and symbolic or detailed and illustrative.
The goal is something fans would proudly wear.
Minimal emblems or detailed art, as long as it prints clean
Strong silhouettes and high contrast recommended
The contest is open to individuals of all ages. Participants under 18 must have parent or guardian consent and may be asked to confirm.
Submission specs
Make it easy to review and easy to print.
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, or PDF
Minimum 300 DPI recommended
Upload clear, high quality images (minimum 1200px on the longest side)
Design with apparel printing in mind. A common DTG maximum print area is about 12 by 16 inches.
If you work in pixels, a safe target is about 3600 by 4800 px.
Include a short description of your artwork and concept. Keep it simple and specific.
LEGAL
Key points. Full terms are available at the link below.
Original work: You confirm your submission is your original creation and does not infringe third party rights.
Logo usage: Do not use the official XamXamLIONZ logo as the main design element. Create original art inspired by the Lion and the team identity.
Limited promo license: By submitting, you allow MOD to host and display your submission to run and promote the contest while you retain ownership.
Winner agreement: If selected, you will be asked to sign a separate licensing agreement covering commercial use and royalties.
Removal and disqualification: Submissions may be removed or disqualified if they violate rules or upon request.
Privacy: Your contact info is used to administer the contest and communicate about winners and royalties.
Quick answers for the XamXamLIONZ: Rise of the Knowledge Lion licensing contest.
Who can enter and how many winners are selected?
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Anyone can enter. We will select 5 winning designs. If you are under 18, you must have parent or guardian consent and may be asked to confirm.
What should I submit for this contest?
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Submit original artwork inspired by XamXamLIONZ and the Knowledge Lion. Reinterpret the Lion using your own style and cultural creativity.
Your design should be merch friendly: bold shapes, readable contrast, and a strong silhouette. Posters, icons, emblems, typography, and clean illustration styles all work well.
Can I use the official XamXamLIONZ logo in my design?
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To keep judging fair and designs merch ready, avoid placing the official logo as the main artwork unless the contest guidelines explicitly say it is allowed.
In general, we recommend creating a fresh Lion interpretation that feels inspired by XamXamLIONZ without simply reusing official marks.
Are there any restrictions on what I can reference?
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Yes. Keep everything original and licensable.
Do not copy existing artworks, stock assets, or other artists’ fan art.
Do not include third party brand logos, trademarks, or copyrighted characters unrelated to XamXamLIONZ.
Do not use real people’s likenesses unless you have explicit permission.
Is AI generated or AI assisted art allowed?
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Yes. AI generated and AI assisted submissions are allowed.
You must have the rights to submit the work and you must not use prompts or source materials that recreate copyrighted artworks, logos, or protected brand assets.
What are the prizes and do winners earn royalties?
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Yes. The Top 5 designs are licensed and receive cash prizes from a $200 total prize pool, plus 5% royalties on merch sales for their winning design.
The cash prize amounts are based on placement and are listed on the contest page.
Do I keep ownership of my artwork?
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You keep ownership of your submission.
If selected as a winner, you will sign a winner licensing agreement so the design can be produced, sold, and distributed as official merchandise. Royalties are paid to you based on sales of your winning design.
What happens after I submit?
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We review submissions for originality, merch readiness, and how well the design captures the spirit of the Knowledge Lion.
If selected, we will contact you to confirm print ready files, payout details, and the winner licensing agreement.
What file types and sizes should I upload?
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Accepted formats are JPG, PNG, or PDF. We recommend 300 DPI for print readiness, and a clear high quality image (minimum 1200px on the longest side).
What is the recommended print area for apparel?
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A common DTG maximum print area is about 12 by 16 inches. If you work in pixels, a safe target is about 3600 by 4800 px.
What are the contest dates and when are winners announced?
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Contest begins: April 15, 2026
Submission deadline: May 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Winners announced: Shortly after the contest ends (after review and final approvals)
Where can I read the full legal terms and conditions?
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