{"id":259984,"date":"2024-09-17T23:21:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T23:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/17\/android-developers-blog-weareplay-nkenne-the-app-teaching-african-languages-and-culture\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:11:17","slug":"android-developers-blog-weareplay-nkenne-the-app-teaching-african-languages-and-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/17\/android-developers-blog-weareplay-nkenne-the-app-teaching-african-languages-and-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Android Developers Blog: #WeArePlay | Nkenne: The app teaching African languages and culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNrZUz7AsjqnFhJZ3BiBy2mDVmKO6hCv66KtgSq7vZtgt9ZZiljd7_JNFJEyuOg7tF1HfYqOqSnW6MQLRoYOaPalEg4vC4XVwstTgXz-hzYmzqeAGmEmZ4R56DNL8UtllCGOoCkVcCpkE73wue1m40mPu2tHjPirvMwBMZiQZARYWiMRlhYRkmTfwfaZM\/s1600\/%23WeArePlay%20Social%20.png\"\/><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNrZUz7AsjqnFhJZ3BiBy2mDVmKO6hCv66KtgSq7vZtgt9ZZiljd7_JNFJEyuOg7tF1HfYqOqSnW6MQLRoYOaPalEg4vC4XVwstTgXz-hzYmzqeAGmEmZ4R56DNL8UtllCGOoCkVcCpkE73wue1m40mPu2tHjPirvMwBMZiQZARYWiMRlhYRkmTfwfaZM\/s1600\/%23WeArePlay%20Social%20.png\" style=\"display:none\"\/><\/p>\n<p><em>Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEik4qrvAXEbwjc73FqR0tLgTgjSzdsYGxfiWG8MDOX0ATzF7xhnycsjl_KyDcxZoGZx7uiGPcAi8C-ByRwvTjgkOqVI6uGQZ0jg2VML-56P7fZlIkSMVA7XnEN0t406X67IlMJPXc2iVNUlJC0DclM-ITEJ71bTaDSQJ-wii2mwXdfnMAjZLoAVO2a0vWU\/s1600\/Android%20Devs%20_%20Google%20Devs%20-Blog_Header_1200x600.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"1058\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEik4qrvAXEbwjc73FqR0tLgTgjSzdsYGxfiWG8MDOX0ATzF7xhnycsjl_KyDcxZoGZx7uiGPcAi8C-ByRwvTjgkOqVI6uGQZ0jg2VML-56P7fZlIkSMVA7XnEN0t406X67IlMJPXc2iVNUlJC0DclM-ITEJ71bTaDSQJ-wii2mwXdfnMAjZLoAVO2a0vWU\/s1600\/Android%20Devs%20_%20Google%20Devs%20-Blog_Header_1200x600.jpg\" style=\"\u201d100%\u201d\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In our latest film for <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/console\/about\/weareplay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WeArePlay<\/a>, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Michael and Shalom &#8211; a mother and son duo driven by a passion for sharing and teaching African languages. Discover how their app, Nkenne, goes beyond language learning\u2014serving as a powerful tool for preserving cultural heritage and reconnecting people with their African language and culture.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"#WeArePlay: Michael and Shalom, Nkenne - USA\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iBL6uELMV2I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size:large;\">What inspired you to create Nkenne?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><b>Michael:<\/b> Nkenne which means &#8220;of the mother,&#8221;  really came from a personal place. I wanted to learn Igbo, my native language from Nigeria, but there weren\u2019t many resources out there that made it easy or accessible. My mom, Shalom, raised me in the U.S., and while I grew up hearing bits of Igbo, there wasn\u2019t enough time or structure for me to fully learn it. During the pandemic, when everything paused, I realized how much I wanted to connect with my heritage, and that\u2019s when the idea sparked.  We realized that not just Igbo, but many African languages were becoming less common, even among those who speak them. So, we saw this as an opportunity to preserve these languages and help others reconnect with their roots.<\/p>\n<p><image><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nkenne Founders Cafe in Maine, US\" border=\"0\" id=\"imgCaption\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhvIgVYYiJMpbJ8sacS1dCIQvtfNCC35vNPxpOeX_88flU30y0xhPELW7WPFSc_UQ5CLuNkVOj_tKjCX6TqlpuIVWTQ6w7sXD1Tc93VrqmwAySAbpjTw6KZtUFpVSeobaz7mdM_vk8SoKaIeN1QCjH1VTAt9raPIxUyK75uGPT2Dr3-GY8-gSuOzLD92gs\/s1600\/11_US_MAINE_NKENNE_FOUNDERS_CAFE.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/image><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size:large;\">You\u2019ve mentioned the goal of preserving African languages. How does Nkenne contribute to their preservation?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><b>Shalom:<\/b> African languages are considered low-resource because they don&#8217;t have as much digital content, formal documentation, or readily available learning tools. With Nkenne, we\u2019re helping to change that. We\u2019re not just teaching the languages, we\u2019re documenting them, building lessons, and creating a resource for future generations. Many people in Nigeria, for example, don\u2019t speak their native languages anymore. By creating Nkenne, we\u2019re essentially building a digital library of African languages.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size:large;\">How does Nkenne integrate both language learning and cultural education? Why is it important to teach both?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><b>Michael:<\/b> Understanding the cultural meaning behind a language makes learning richer. It\u2019s not just vocabulary\u2014it\u2019s about connecting people with the culture behind it. We include blogs, podcasts, and lessons that dive into the traditions and customs tied to the language, so people understand not just the words, but the history and meaning behind them.<\/p>\n<p><b>Shalom:<\/b> Yes, learning a language without the cultural context leaves gaps. For instance, in Nigeria, using your left hand to hand someone an item is considered rude\u2014 we teach these cultural nuances in the app to help the user truly grasp the culture.<\/p>\n<p><image><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Nkenne app on device, showing avaiable languages\" border=\"0\" id=\"imgCaption\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggsRO9BbTCR5Ag9u5K96suo2AGirS4K8OR6BwYibmnTwH6Hau3fsE4ceD06AZMpo4vux1cDQjP_8AXQE4uH1AsrW81bSc14Zip-13PyKfv2qdfFwC0pTSqAQdA66PtQCU5xEzmx-AxEbiOWvFU8yCLFtMRTYW-uYeQncy4qAqiMTggdIjiXEW_VgcgbfE\/s1600\/08_US_MAINE_NKENNE_APP_LANGUAGES.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/image><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size:large;\">What\u2019s next for Nkenne?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><b>Michael:<\/b> We&#8217;re 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&#8217;re also working on enhancing our AI capabilities for language translation.<\/p>\n<p><b>Shalom:<\/b> We\u2019re also deepening the community experience, adding more social features where users can connect, share, and practice together. It\u2019s about building not just a language-learning platform, but a space where people from the diaspora and beyond can truly connect with their heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Discover more <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/console\/about\/weareplay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">global #WeArePlay stories<\/a> and share your favorites.<\/p>\n<p><center><br \/>\n How useful did you find this blog post?<br \/>\n  <\/center><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScLTlzFd_aV-3rAdBqO1QxwCsuAcDCIM6fJFXyNcyf7zElVXg\/viewform?usp=pp_url&amp;entry.753333049=1%E2%98%85+%E2%80%93+Not+at+all&amp;entry.2056663615&amp;entry.646747778=changeme-mm\/yy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2605<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScLTlzFd_aV-3rAdBqO1QxwCsuAcDCIM6fJFXyNcyf7zElVXg\/viewform?usp=pp_url&amp;entry.753333049=2%E2%98%85+%E2%80%93+Not+very&amp;entry.2056663615&amp;entry.646747778=changeme-mm\/yy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2605<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScLTlzFd_aV-3rAdBqO1QxwCsuAcDCIM6fJFXyNcyf7zElVXg\/viewform?usp=pp_url&amp;entry.753333049=3%E2%98%85+%E2%80%93+Somewhat&amp;entry.2056663615&amp;entry.646747778=changeme-mm\/yy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2605<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScLTlzFd_aV-3rAdBqO1QxwCsuAcDCIM6fJFXyNcyf7zElVXg\/viewform?usp=pp_url&amp;entry.753333049=4%E2%98%85+%E2%80%93+Very&amp;entry.2056663615&amp;entry.646747778=changeme-mm\/yy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2605<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScLTlzFd_aV-3rAdBqO1QxwCsuAcDCIM6fJFXyNcyf7zElVXg\/viewform?usp=pp_url&amp;entry.753333049=5%E2%98%85+%E2%80%93+Extremely&amp;entry.2056663615&amp;entry.646747778=changeme-mm\/yy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2605<\/a><br \/>\n  <\/center><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxnvf5XzyebGljqgi8J7by9XsvaL5WWLNamSyTg4w_c0kPHjY1B1no1FQsdSfUHUwNw0UuYfXuo6i7K6VpdyV2-K8ms4VFmZA438ujm6qwtZMt5rJfMGymhQ_iCX2Z8h0MuJo7gXUQ4Hb-hjKYK1isibMZZxCyX_vo3kGoP5tieK2PI2ZhYdGh4gsqhwA\/s260\/lockup_ic_Google_Play_H_260x53px_clr.png\" style=\"display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"53\" data-original-width=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxnvf5XzyebGljqgi8J7by9XsvaL5WWLNamSyTg4w_c0kPHjY1B1no1FQsdSfUHUwNw0UuYfXuo6i7K6VpdyV2-K8ms4VFmZA438ujm6qwtZMt5rJfMGymhQ_iCX2Z8h0MuJo7gXUQ4Hb-hjKYK1isibMZZxCyX_vo3kGoP5tieK2PI2ZhYdGh4gsqhwA\/s200\/lockup_ic_Google_Play_H_260x53px_clr.png\" width=\"200\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/android-developers.googleblog.com\/2024\/09\/weareplay-nkenne-app-teaching-african-languages-and-culture.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Posted by Robbie McLachlan, Developer Marketing In our latest film for #WeArePlay, which celebrates the people behind apps and games, we meet Michael and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":259985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259984"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}