An engineer by training, also currently pursuing a DBA, Kamahunda Mulamba has been working in the field of digital platform development and operation for over 20 years in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He currently heads Kanieba Interactive, a Paris-based company.
He has also gained experience in creating and selling businesses in France and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was also in the Democratic Republic of Congo that he implemented several digital classroom projects for schools. The Africatik project draws on the lessons learned from this experience.
What are KANIEBA INTERACTIVE's main activities?
Created by a couple of digital project consultants, Kanieba Interactive
is a company specializing in the design and operation of digital platforms. It designs and manages these platforms with the help of a network of partners based in France, Belgium, and Africa.
Kanieba Interactive carries out a large part of its development work with TIKDEM (www.tikdem
), a team of engineers based in Kinshasa.
Can you tell us about your AFRICATIK project?
aims to be the largest collection of educational applications adapted to the African cultural context.
Since its creation, Africatik has been constantly evolving. In October 2019, when it was launched, the first applications were produced and presented in pilot schools in Kinshasa.
Last June, we opened subscriptions to allow a wide audience to enjoy the full Africatik offering via a single product: the Africatik App (https://africatik.com/applications/africatik-app/
).
It covers five areas, representing around twenty apps with content adapted to each country: currencies in the Makuta math game, puzzle landscapes, maps, stories, etc. Children can also learn French, English, and African languages from West Africa (Diola, Pulaar, Sereer, Wolof, + Bambara, Dioula in progress), Central Africa (Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba), East Africa (Somali, Swahili), and Southern Africa (Malagasy, Swahili).
Our technical strategy consists of a strong focus on open-source development tools, which allows us to control the entire source code produced.
This means that the applications we develop can be fully customized and adapted to your needs, both in terms of functionality and localization (applications available in national languages).
How did you decide to implement this project?
The Africatik project is the result of the field experience acquired by its promoters.
In particular, it draws on lessons learned from the implementation of several digital projects carried out with Congolese schools by the Kinshasa-based company Tikdem (of which I am a shareholder): https://web.facebook.com/pg/tikdemsarl/posts/?ref=page_internal
.
In view of the difficulties encountered by schools and families, we sought to democratize access to educational content through easily downloadable applications.
We want to mobilize technology in the service of learning. Our challenge is to recreate the world in which young people live in order to increase their interest and attention. What's more, thanks to digital technology, it is possible to access all the knowledge produced throughout the world.
Who is AFRICATIK aimed at and what applications does it offer?
Our applications are designed for preschool and elementary school children, but also for adults who want to learn to read.
We cover all the fundamental knowledge: math, language arts, science, history-geography, and even logic.
Africatik makes learning fun with interactive apps:
- Makuta, Mutshi, and Kaluun: for counting by manipulating banknotes or collections;
- Tanga, Word Games, Bongo: for reading and writing by listening to, telling, and reading new stories;
- Geography or KinPuzzle: for memorizing maps of Africa and discovering countries through images;
- Chemistry-les Mélanges, Kinzazi, Chenza, or Mutuka: for observing and experimenting with science…
Has AFRICATIK already been implemented in schools?
In 2020, the Orange Foundation selected Kanieba Interactive during the ECOLES NUMERIQUES 2020 call for projects. As part of this initiative, Africatik content is being distributed in the Republic of Congo within the Orange Foundation's partner schools
.
This year, for the second consecutive year, the Orange Foundation has chosen Kanieba Interactive to distribute Africatik content in 16 other African countries where the program is in place, representing 1,000 schools and 250,000 students.
Several private schools in Kinshasa also use these applications on a subscription basis.
Is it possible to access them without an internet connection?
Schools and families nominally access the applications via the internet.
For subscribing schools, we set up a dedicated server accessible via the intranet, which allows access to the applications on the local network.
For schools selected for the Orange Foundation's "Digital Schools" program, all applications are accessible through a Raspberry mini server on which the applications are located. These mini servers use Kiwix technology (kiwix.org), which means that no internet connection is required.
In which countries are you accessible?
Africatik can be accessed from any country in Africa, as well as from the rest of the world. Africatik is open to diasporas around the world, as well as to all families and education professionals interested in Africa. Simply download the Africatik App and subscribe. The standard subscription is €10 for 12 months for all content.
What is your business model?
The free offer is distributed in partnership with the Orange Foundation. We have been receiving support from the Orange Foundation for two years, since Kanieba Interactive was selected in March 2020 and March 2021 in the Orange Foundation's "Digital Schools Program" call for projects.
The paid offer (subscription) started last June. We are aiming for 100,000 to 200,000 subscribers over three years.
Do you plan to eventually integrate other types of educational content, such as video content, for example?
Yes, the applications planned for January 2021 will include interactive video.