Lelapa AI, a pan-African initiative, has launched InkubaLM, the first multilingual AI large language model (LLM) tailored to support African languages. Focusing on Swahili, Yoruba, IsiXhosa, Hausa, and IsiZulu, this model addresses the digital underrepresentation of these languages, driving forward both digital innovation and preservation efforts.
Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO of Lelapa AI, stresses the need for technology that respects cultural diversity, asserting that no one should have to adopt a foreign culture to access cutting-edge tools. InkubaLM, inspired by the dung beetle’s strength, is a compact model designed to empower African communities with minimal resources. It includes two key datasets, Inkuba-Mono and Inkuba-Instruct, supporting tasks like translation, sentiment analysis, and more.
Lelapa AI is dedicated to providing open access to InkubaLM for researchers, educators, and language communities, ensuring African languages have a robust digital presence. Atnafu Tonja, the research lead, describes InkubaLM as a significant step toward greater linguistic equality and the preservation of cultural heritage.