KENYA - AI Sign Language Translation

A Kenyan entrepreneur who designed an app that translates speech into sign language using AI-powered 3D avatars has won a major award for African innovation.

“Think of it as Google Translate for sign language, that takes speech and text input and outputs photorealistic avatars signing,” said Elly Savatia, creator of Terp 360, a web-based app that uses 3D avatars to provide sign language translations from speech in real time, allowing users to communicate without relying on human interpreters.

“The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is a way for us to support, showcase and celebrate African innovation,” said Rebecca Enonchong, chair of the prize-judging panel.

Terp 360 was developed in conjunction with deaf and hard-of-hearing Kenyans to record over 2,300 signs, including commonly used phrases and words. Motion sensors were attached to the hands of a signer, capturing the movements of their hands in space.

“One of the criteria that we use to judge is social impact,” said Enonchong. “We want to know that there is an impact beyond creating jobs, creating wealth, that the solution brings. And assistive technologies are one of those areas that are underserved… not just on the continent, but in the world,” she added.

-www.cnn.com, 22 October 2025

Commentary: When it comes to innovation, Africa lags behind. Yet some economists and financial experts predict Africa’s rise on the world stage.

Concerning Nobel Prize recipients, of the five continents (as symbolized in the five Olympic rings), Europe stands out first with 45% of all winners. The Americas come in second with 22%, followed by Asia at 16% and Africa 9%.

In Africa, only two nations—Ethiopia and Liberia—were never colonized by European powers.

In Asia, on the other hand, the following countries were never formally colonized by European powers: China, Japan, Thailand (Siam), Iran, Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Turkey (Ottoman Empire), and Afghanistan.

For the Americas, a search reveals this Reddit answer: “De jure, at least in European terms, all of America is either Spanish or Portuguese from 1494, with papal blessing confirmed in 1506.

“But if we used the principle in Berlin Conferences, that is effective occupation in terms of a flag, treaty and local administration, then a good part of the interior of Northern America from the Pacific crest to the Mississippi, plus most of the Amazonas has never been effectively occupied by an European power—any later control was by local states (though of European descent).”

A Google search reveals: “The Bible mentions Africa and its people extensively, portraying the continent as integral to salvation history, from being part of the Garden of Eden to being a refuge for Jesus’ family and the birthplace of early Christianity. Key figures like Hagar, Simon of Cyrene, and the Ethiopian eunuch appear throughout scripture, and prophetic passages foretell the spiritual embrace of the continent by God.”

From Biblical perspectives, Africa is extremely important. Those African countries directly mentioned by name are Egypt, Ethiopia (Cush), Libya, and Sudan.

In Egypt, Israel became a nation. We must highlight that Israel is a name coined by God Himself. The name was given in Genesis 32:28: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.” And Israel eventually went out of Egypt under the direction of the Creator. Second Chronicles 7:14 makes this crystal clear, “If my people, which are called by my name…” This cannot be construed to be any other country but Israel, whose name was God-given.

Later in the Old Testament, we read: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1). But the real son, the Son of God, was under protective custody in Egypt. Matthew confirms: “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15).