Lingawa Gains $1.1M to Preserve Africa's Linguistic Heritage

Frank Williams, Lingawa Co-founder & CEO

Africa is home to over 2,000 languages, but approximately 12% face the risk of extinction, largely due to the lingering effects of colonialism and globalization. Colonial powers imposed their languages on African societies, relegating indigenous languages to informal use. This legacy continues today, with English dominating global business and communication, leading many Africans to prioritize it for economic advancement.

As migration increases, African languages face further threats. Immigrants often assimilate into new cultures, risking the loss of their linguistic heritage. UNESCO warns that 40% of the world’s languages are endangered, with African languages making up a notable share. These languages, more than just tools for communication, carry deep cultural significance.

Lingawa, a startup formerly known as TopSet, aims to preserve these languages by helping the African diaspora and others achieve fluency in them. Backed by $1.1 million in funding from investors like Voltron Capital and MasterCard Foundation, the platform seeks to ignite cultural pride through language education.

The platform has already served over 3,000 learners, with a team of 100 native-speaking tutors from Africa. However, Lingawa also addresses a skills gap in language teaching. "We train high-potential native speakers to become world-class language teachers, ensuring lessons are engaging and effective," says Frank Williams, the startup’s co-founder and CEO.

Source: Chimgozirim Nwokoma / TechPoint Africa