Roots of Communication
Odokara-Okigbo recently returned from Ibadan, Nigeria, where he set up the fourth office for Nkenne, the African language learning platform he founded in 2021. The platform now has 20 languages on its app and about 200,000 users. In addition to online lessons that people can use anytime, the new center in Ibadan recently hired 13 instructors to provide live tutoring, with plans to add more. The National Science Foundation has awarded Nkenne two grants, most recently $1 million in December to accelerate development of the app’s tonally sensitive AI translation database of African languages.
“What makes us different is that we not only teach the language but also the cultural aspects of the language that you’re learning,” says Odokara-Okigbo, who grew up in Portland, Maine, and is part of the Igbo tribe in southeastern Nigeria. “Our goal is to preserve and celebrate African languages in a fun and easy way. They’re the foundation of all human communication. Our top users are people traveling to the continent of Africa or who have family or loved ones from there. In Minnesota we have a huge Somali population using Nkenne.”
An American Music Award-winning singer known professionally as Michael O, Odokara-Okigbo is also a record producer and songwriter. In February he released his latest single, “Attention,” which Apple Music included on both its “R&B Now” and “Afro-Soul Mix” playlists. During college he led the Dartmouth Aires a cappella singing group to a second-place finish on NBC’s The Sing Off.
“Without the Aires I don’t think I would have become a singer,” says the history major, who also was a varsity rower. “I got to learn so much about music, harmony, and brotherhood—and I definitely learned a lot about how to juggle life there. I’m so grateful for that time.” He started Nkenne after his 2020 tour was postponed during the pandemic, using money he earned from his music and with support from Dartmouth alumni.
