Kikuyu, Somali, other African languages added to Google Search and Translate

Kenyan languages, Kikuyu, Somali and Oromo are some of the African dialects recently added to Google Search and Translate.

In a statement seen by Neusroom, Google explained that the addition is in line with its aim to boost Africa’s access to technology.

An additional 15 African languages have been added to its search engine, while a further 300 million Africans now have access to the service.

94 languages worldwide can now be translated to at least 25 local African dialects.

“Google is also expanding its offering on Voice Search and Gboard in Kenya, with the addition of Kikuyu, alongside, Swahili- as well as for wider East and South Africa,” the statement reads.

Previously, Kiswahili and Luo were the Kenyan languages on the platform.

Kikuyu can now be used to search the internet and is available on Voice Search and Gboard.

The language is the most popular in Kenya, with about 8.1 million people speaking it.

Burundi’s Rundi, Tingrinya and Amharic in Ethiopia; Nigeria’s Yoruba, Igbo and pidgin languages and; Chichewa in Malawi are the other languages added to Google Translate.

Google’s Managing Director of Africa, Alex Okosi, has hailed the additions, noting that the technology will be crucial to 300 million Africans, who can now use voice features to access the web.