Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing.
In the latest film from #WeArePlay, a celebration of the people who make apps and games, we meet Michael and Shalom, a mother and son duo driven by a passion for sharing and teaching African languages. Discover how their app, Nkenne, is a powerful tool for language learning, preserving cultural heritage and reconnecting people to African languages and culture.
What inspired you to create Nkenne?
boy name: Nkenne, which means “mother,” came from a very personal place. I wanted to learn Igbo, my native language in Nigeria, but there weren’t many resources to learn it easily. My mother, Shalom, raised me in the United States, and I grew up hearing Igbo, but I never had the time or structure to fully learn it. When everything shut down during the pandemic, I realized how desperately I wanted to connect with my heritage, and that’s when the idea came to me. We realized that not only Igbo, but many African languages were becoming less common among the people who spoke them. So we saw this as an opportunity to preserve these languages and help others reconnect with their roots.
You mentioned the goal of preserving African languages. How does Nkenne contribute to preservation?
Shalom: African languages are considered underserved because they lack digital content, official documentation, or readily available learning tools. With Nkenne, we are helping to change that. We are not just teaching languages, we are writing documentation, building lessons, and creating resources for future generations. For example, many people in Nigeria no longer speak their native language. With Nkenne, we are essentially building a digital library of African languages.
How does Nkenne integrate language learning and cultural education? Why is it important to teach both?
boy name: Understanding the cultural meaning of a language enriches learning. It’s not just about vocabulary, it’s about connecting people to the culture of that language. We include blogs, podcasts, and classes that explore the traditions and customs associated with language, so people understand not just the words, but also the history and meaning of those words.
Shalom: Yes, learning a language without cultural context leaves gaps. For example, in Nigeria, it is considered rude to hand someone something with your left hand. We teach these cultural nuances in our app to help users truly understand the culture.
What’s next for Nkenne?
boy name: We are focused on expanding our language offerings to 30 by the end of 2025, including more African languages and Creole dialects from around the world. We are also working to strengthen our AI capabilities for language translation.
Shalom: We’re also deepening the community experience and adding more social features that allow users to connect, share, and practice together. We’re building a space where people living abroad and beyond can truly connect with their heritage, not just as a language learning platform.
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