When you open an app, scroll through a news site, or use an AI assistant, what language do you encounter? Usually, it's English, French, or Portuguese. Popular platforms feature content mainly in these languages. Over 85% of African digital content is significantly available in these languages. While they connect us globally, they also create barriers, making many feel like outsiders in spaces shaping our future.

This movement is not just about putting words online, it’s also about securing Africa’s rightful place in the digital future by making sure our languages and identities shape technology, culture, and access to knowledge. Linguistic exclusion highlights why this matters.

The Cost of Linguistic Exclusion

Language carries history and identity. When African languages are missing online, millions are unable to fully participate in the digital age. Educational tools, health information, and civic resources are often not accessible to those who are more comfortable with their native language. About 40% of Africans find colonial languages hard to use, according to Afrobarometer, proving how serious digital exclusion is.

For example, a rural student in the Eastern Cape may have a tablet, but if the learning app is only in English, comprehension becomes difficult. A health chatbot in French may not assist a Wolof-speaking mother in Senegal. This results in digital gaps growing not only between countries, but also among neighbours.

Innovators Leading the Way

African innovators are responding to these challenges by taking action across different fields and industries.

• Tech Developers: In South Africa, developers create mobile apps in isiXhosa and isiZulu to assist young learners in reading. One notable success is the 'Umfundi' app, which has been downloaded in the tens of thousands of times in its first year, significantly improving reading comprehension among its users. In Nigeria, AI researchers are developing tools to enhance understanding of Yoruba and Hausa, enabling local voices to interact seamlessly with voice technology. For example, an initiative called NaijaVoices' created dataset, which comprise over 1,800 hours of diverse speech-text data from 5,000+ speakers. 

• Podcasters and Creatives: Swahili podcasts are growing in East Africa, covering a range of topics from politics to pop culture. These shows prove that people want content in their own languages.

• Digital Activists: Online groups are translating Wikipedia into African languages to expand global knowledge and understanding. Grassroots campaigns promote the use of local languages on social media, making them an integral part of daily digital life.

Now is the time to act. Building on grassroots momentum, consider joining or starting local language technology initiatives. Young people can get involved by participating in translation projects, online coding communities that use indigenous languages, or local language hackathons. Learn to code for indigenous languages, amplify multilingual voices on social media, and support efforts to develop digital tools for Africa's diverse languages. Let’s shape a more inclusive digital landscape and ensure Africa's digital future reflects our voices.

Culture Meets Technology

Putting African languages online is essential for digital empowerment and representation. When we use our languages to code, create, and communicate, we affirm that innovation must reflect Africa’s voices. Systemic support and policies can amplify this central shift.

It also creates economic opportunities. Studies consistently show that language accessibility directly impacts digital adoption and economic growth in Africa. A global CSA Research survey found that 76% of consumers prefer information in their native language, and 40% will not buy from platforms that don’t offer it. In Africa, this plays out clearly: ads in Amharic drove 70% higher engagement than English-only campaigns in Ethiopia, while SMS marketing in Yoruba or Hausa in Nigeria achieved 50% higher response rates. Beyond consumer behaviour, the opportunity is enormous: PwC projects that AI could contribute up to $1.5 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, but to unlock this potential, African languages must be fully integrated into digital systems. In fact, one recent report estimated that the African language technology market could grow from $3.4 billion in 2024 to nearly $20 billion by 2034, driven by demand for localised edtech and digital tools. Together, these insights underline that multilingual digital spaces are essential investments for inclusive growth and market expansion.

Challenges Along the Way

Of course, there are challenges. Building digital tools in African languages requires funding, expertise, and teamwork. Many African languages are poorly documented, which makes it more challenging to develop digital tools. (Adebayo et al., 2024) Still, these problems present opportunities for more people to lend a hand. Young people can volunteer on language projects, assist in translating digital content, or learn digital skills for multilingual projects. One way to find support is through organisations such as the African Language Technology Initiative and the African Academy of Languages, which offer resources and mentorship for those passionate about preserving and promoting the continent's linguistic diversity. (African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), n.d.) Far from being roadblocks, these challenges invite new ideas and opportunities. Africans have always found ways to innovate.

The Future Is Multilingual

The promise of the digital age depends on linguistic inclusion. To unlock Africa’s future, we must ensure our languages lead digital transformation. Every policymaker, technologist, and creator has a role in building a multilingual digital landscape. Young people, your leadership is vital to realising Africa’s digital potential.

When a child learns coding in isiXhosa, or a grandmother gets health advice in Luganda, something big happens. Technology feels familiar. It truly becomes ours. African languages matter because they make digital progress authentic, inclusive, and sustainable. Support, create, and demand digital spaces where African languages shape our future. Only then will the language of tomorrow truly belong to us all.