Rooted in Culture,
Powered by Innovation
to preserve and promote African languages
Lexicography
Many of the first books in African languages were dictionaries. At Nkanda, we’re bringing these vital tools into the digital age, starting with Yoruba, where we used 16 traditional dictionaries to build one powerful, modern app.
Built on Rich Sources
Combines knowledge from 16 trusted Yoruba dictionaries.
Bridging Cultures
Preserves heritage while making language learning accessible.
Audio Documentation
At Nkanda, we collaborate with studio engineers and native speakers to record thousands of words with clarity and accuracy. For the Efik Dictionary App, we recorded 4,000+ words in 2 months, and for the Yoruba App, over 12,800 words in 8 months.
Authentic Native Recordings
Words are recorded by indigenous speakers in studio settings for clarity and accuracy.
Expert-Led Sessions
Each session is supervised to ensure correct pronunciation and quality control.
Academic Research
Nkanda goes beyond dictionaries by using journal articles, history books, proverbs, and indigenous novels to enrich our database. These sources help us track evolving African languages and build more meaningful sentence examples.
Expanded Word Sources
New words are gathered from academic research, literature, and everyday use.
Real-Life Sentence Examples
Proverbs and indigenous texts help illustrate how words are used in context.
Collaboration with Educational Institutions
Academic Partnerships Across Africa
Collaborations with institutions like Addis Ababa University, University of Cape Coast, and University of Zimbabwe.
Expert-Led Dictionary Development
Our Yoruba Dictionary App was built with scholars from University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and University of Ilorin.
Sustainability & The future of
Language Preservation
Nkanda is building a unified mobile platform powered by AI to support African language learning and preserve indigenous knowledge. Our goal is to create long-lasting tools that keep African languages alive for future generations.
AI-Powered Learning
We’re integrating smart tools to teach African languages through real-world, culturally rooted content.
One Platform, Many Languages
Our upcoming mobile hub will house all language tools in a single, sustainable app.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation
With a commitment to cultural preservation and modern technology,
Nkanda is building the go-to platform for African linguistic resources.