An audio-first language learning app for Ibibio and Annang — coming in 2026.

Iko-Nnyin — Ibibio for "our speech" or "our words."

The Brief

Akwa Ibom languages — Ibibio, Annang, Efik, Oron, and others — are spoken by millions, but are dramatically underserved by digital tools. Duolingo doesn't teach them. Google Translate barely recognizes them. Children of diaspora Nigerians grow up disconnected from a language their grandparents speak fluently.

Iko-Nnyin is a co-founded venture building the first audio-first learning app for these languages — starting with Ibibio and Annang as Phase 1, with a roadmap for Efik, Oron, and others.

The Audience

Three intersecting groups:

Diaspora Nigerians reconnecting with heritage they grew up around but didn't formally learn.
Second-generation children of Akwa Ibom parents — born or raised abroad — who can understand some, but not speak.
Language enthusiasts and learners drawn to under-documented African languages.

My Role

Co-founder, product designer, and lead web developer. I'm responsible for the visual identity, audio-first interaction design, web app product design, and front-end development. I work alongside a co-founder leading content, linguistic accuracy, and community.

Key Decisions (so far)

Audio-first, not text-first. Ibibio and Annang are tonal — text alone cannot convey meaning. Every lesson, drill, and review centers a native speaker recording. Users learn by hearing, then by speaking — not by reading transliterations.

Cultural specificity over generic translation. Most language apps teach decontextualized vocabulary ("the cat sits on the mat"). Iko-Nnyin teaches phrases inside cultural contexts — the language of a market greeting, the language of welcoming an elder, the language of a child speaking to a grandparent.

Freemium with intention. Free tier covers core lessons in both languages. Paid tier unlocks deeper modules, downloadable audio packs for offline use, and live group practice sessions. Built with Paystack and Stripe to serve both naira and global card payments.

Premium, calm design — not Duolingo-cartoony. The brand sits closer to Masterclass or Babbel than to gamified language apps. The audience treats this as identity work, not casual learning.

What's Live Today

A concept landing page (this site) introducing the brand and collecting waitlist signups for early access. The full product is in active design and build.

Roadmap

Phase 1 (2026): Ibibio and Annang lessons, audio-first onboarding, paid tier launch
Phase 2: Efik and Oron, community practice features, audio downloads
Phase 3: Other Nigerian languages by community demand

Why This Project Matters

Most "save the language" projects are academic — archives, dictionaries, dissertations. Few have product polish. Few are built for the diaspora child holding a phone in London or Houston, trying to understand what their grandmother is saying.

Iko-Nnyin is being built to be the app I wish existed when I was younger.

Iko-Nnyin is in active development. To join the waitlist for early access, reach out via the contact form.