AfirkaLLM Part 4: What is still missing, and where you come in
The biggest gap is data that was never online. If you speak an African language or hold text in one, this part is for you.
Leading Research in Data Science for Social Impact
We bridge the gap between cutting-edge data science research and real-world societal challenges, with a special focus on African language technologies.
Our Impact Areas
Research that drives meaningful change in society
🌍 Data Science for Society
Developing methods and tools that enhance decision-making capabilities while ensuring user-centered approaches to data science research.
🗣️ African Language NLP
Advancing natural language processing for African languages through innovative tools, datasets, and methodologies.
🤖 Machine Learning Research
Developing ML approaches that address real-world challenges while considering ethical and societal implications.
Recent Research Highlights
Our latest contributions to the scientific community
Our research spans multiple domains, from developing language technologies for under-resourced African languages to creating data-driven solutions for societal challenges. We publish in top-tier venues and actively contribute to open science through our datasets, models, and tools.
Open Resources & Tools
We believe in open science and making our work accessible to all
Datasets
Curated datasets for African language research and social impact studies
Software & Models
Open-source tools and pre-trained models for researchers worldwide
Documentation
Comprehensive guides and tutorials for using our resources
Featured Projects
Masakhane Translate
Machine translation platform for African languages, making communication across language barriers more accessible.
Masakhane NLP
Grassroots organization focused on advancing NLP research and applications for African languages.
COVID-19 ZA Data
Comprehensive data repository tracking COVID-19 in South Africa, supporting research and policy decisions.
Latest News
AI4D Lab Visits Part 2: Sign Language and Inclusive AI at KNUST's RAIL, Ghana
PhD student Thapelo Sindane visits the Responsible AI Lab at KNUST, presents his SASL research, and reflects on collaboration between RAIL, MCAAI and DSFSI.
AI4D Lab Visits Part 1: Sign Language and African Language AI at Maseno University, Kenya
PhD student Thapelo Sindane visits the Maseno Centre for Applied AI in Kenya to give a guest lecture, join a sign-language panel and share his SASL research.
AfirkaLLM Part 3: No single machine could do this
How a university lab trains a model on borrowed compute, and why every dataset we touch stays on its owner's terms.
Join Our Research Community
Interested in contributing to cutting-edge research that makes a difference? We welcome collaboration and new members.