The free app, available on Google Play, translates words and survival phrases between the seven main languages in Zambia, eliminating the need for bulky and costly printed dictionaries.

It is a locally owned, locally developed solution to a problem that has gone under the radar of larger foreign travel-aid companies.

Bantu Babel was originally conceived at the Peace Corps Innovation Challenge Hackathon, held a year ago in BongoHive—Lusaka’s technology and innovation hub.

BongoHive is one of the hubs supported by infoDev’s Mobile Innovation program.