https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260422/from-culture-to-codes-how-fun-games--cultural-stories-can-save-africas-indigenous-languages-1085245936.html
From Culture to Codes: How Fun, Games, & Cultural Stories Can Save Africa’s Indigenous Languages
From Culture to Codes: How Fun, Games, & Cultural Stories Can Save Africa’s Indigenous Languages
Sputnik Africa
Indigenous languages do not have to be casualties of the digital age. They can be its beneficiaries. The Yoruba language learning mobile app, Ko Ede, proves... 22.04.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-04-22T16:00+0200
2026-04-22T16:00+0200
2026-04-22T16:00+0200
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From Culture to Codes: How Fun, Games, & Cultural Stories Can Save Africa’s Indigenous Languages
Sputnik Africa
Indigenous languages do not have to be casualties of the digital age. They can be its beneficiaries. The Yoruba language learning mobile app, Ko Ede, proves that with creativity, collaboration, and user-centered design, African languages can be preserved through the very technology that threatens them.
The 21st century runs on technology. Smartphones, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms have reshaped how humans communicate, trade, and learn. Yet beneath this hyper-connected surface lies a quiet crisis: the algorithms overwhelmingly favor just a handful of global languages, and thousands of indigenous languages are fading, especially in Africa. But what if technology could be turned into a guardian to help us remember our culture and languages? Dr. Ronke Sakpere, a computer scientist at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, has answered that question with an innovative mobile learning application called KoEde—a name derived from the Yoruba words Ko (learn) and Ede (language). In an intriguing interview with Pan-African Frequency, she explained her passion and work in preserving the Yoruba language and culture through technology.Curious to hear more from our guests? Catch the full conversation on the Pan-African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, and Podcast Addict► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency
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From Culture to Codes: How Fun, Games, & Cultural Stories Can Save Africa’s Indigenous Languages
Indigenous languages do not have to be casualties of the digital age. They can be its beneficiaries. The Yoruba language learning mobile app, Ko Ede, proves that with creativity, collaboration, and user-centered design, African languages can be preserved through the very technology that threatens them.
The 21st century runs on technology. Smartphones, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms have reshaped how humans communicate, trade, and learn. Yet beneath this hyper-connected surface lies a quiet crisis: the algorithms overwhelmingly favor just a handful of global languages, and thousands of indigenous languages are fading, especially in Africa. But what if technology could be turned into a guardian to help us remember our culture and languages? Dr. Ronke Sakpere, a computer scientist at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, has answered that question with an innovative mobile learning application called KoEde—a name derived from the Yoruba words Ko (learn) and Ede (language). In an intriguing interview with Pan-African Frequency, she explained her passion and work in preserving the Yoruba language and culture through technology.
“When the colonial masters came, prior to their coming, we were all comfortable speaking our languages, but they came; yes, they came with their own goods to teach us and to bring education. They brought good health and religion and introduced us to Christianity and all of that. However, I think the mistake we made was to now stop building, or to now stop preserving our own language. [....] It may not be immediately; it might not be a drastic change, but we need to bring back our language, like begin to consciously teach our students. [...] There was a time in Nigeria when, like, if you made a mistake, you were speaking English and you made maybe a grammatical error, and people would laugh at you and think, because you can't communicate in English, you are dull; you are not intelligent, just because you can't. [....] So, we need to begin to let our children in Africa know that number one, it is not language that makes you intelligent. Language is just a means of communication, and beyond that, it also tells you about your roots, about your identity,” she explained.
Curious to hear more from our guests? Catch the full conversation on the Pan-African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency 
