African Harvard University student introduces the first of its kind African multilingual keyboard.
Africa (5 August 2021) – The young and sharp-witted African Harvard University student Sabelo Mhlambi is the genius behind the first of its kind African multilingual keyboard technology that allows users to easily text in the African vernacular of their choice, with the aid of African language auto correct.
The app comes with quite impressive word suggestions, a variety of custom-designed African themed stickers, and just recently launched their African themed Graphic Interchange Formats (GIF’s) and memes.
The keyboard was officially launched earlier this year, and although the app is fairly new and still developing, it has been well received by users, acquiring 38 000 downloads and a 35% retention.
The app is currently working with Moya and Ayoba and offers 10 languages: Isizulu, IsiXhosa, Tswana, SiSwati, North Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swahili, Shona, and English.
Mhlambi says this state-of-the-art technology is a long-overdue solution for Africans.
“Even though I am excited to have developed this technology, it’s truly saddening that I am the first person to do it, this is something that should have been made available to people a long time ago,” Mhlambi says.
The young Harvard University Tech student is currently based in America and has worked tirelessly to develop technologies that could prove to solve some of Africa’s biggest societal issues.
Mhlambi explained that every time he would visit his family in Zimbabwe, Zambia, or South Africa, he would always leave with new ideas for technological developments that could create convenience for the people.
“Every time I would visit Africa, I would come back with new ideas for technologies that could improve the lives of African people, and I am not saying technology is the answer to everything, I’m just saying it can help,” he says.
At one point, the young innovator had quit his job and moved back to Africa to try and develop tech projects which were unfortunately unsuccessful and, in the process, he lost all his money and savings:
“I had no money, so I decided to fly back to America, rebuild and try again. I had the opportunity to attend a course in the University of San Francisco, it was too far from my parent’s house so I had to sleep in airport benches, wake up and attend the next morning but I persevered because I wanted to learn” he continued.
Mhlambi has intensive experience in the ICT industry, having started coding at just 7-years-old using a computer that he shared with his brother and public library computers. He only got his first computer in tertiary school. Mhlambi attended the University of California, where he also worked in their tech department for four years; he also attended the University of San Francisco and is currently enrolled in a tech programme offered by Harvard University.
Mhlambi shared the hardships he endured growing up in America as an African man, highlighting lack of job opportunities and how grateful he is to the organisations that gave him a chance; he further shared that now he wants to use his talent to improve the livelihoods of African people, one tech development at a time.
The Bhala Keyboard can be downloaded for free on the Bha.la website and via Google Play.
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