LOBAKA is a Congolese startup born in Algiers.
Founded by Moïse B. Selph, LOBAKA builds audio and voice technology that makes events, tours, screenings and shared experiences accessible in several languages.
The receiver is already in people's pockets.
It all started from a simple observation: in most rooms, interpretation doesn't exist, because its logistics cost too much.
Every participant already owns an audio receiver: their phone. It just needs the right channel. That is where LOBAKA Sasa started.
We saw it in real rooms: a service followed by worshippers who speak several languages, a conference where part of the audience tunes out, a tour where the guide can only speak one language at a time.
The same technical base serves other situations: a group on the move (Pamoja), a screening (Picha).
One brand, several products, one infrastructure.
Each product shows its real status.
- LOBAKA SasaMultilingual events: live human interpretation on the audience's phones.Available as a pilot
- LOBAKA PamojaTours and groups: the guide's voice, even at a distance.Available as a pilot
- LOBAKA PichaScreenings: one picture, several audio tracks.Available as a pilot
- LOBA OLGALOBAKA's initiative to preserve voices and stories.Initiative
What we hold ourselves to.
01No promise without proof
No latency figure, no client, no testimonial until they exist.
02Say what is human
When a language is produced by an interpreter, we say so. When it is produced by a machine, we will say that too.
03The phone people already have
No proprietary hardware, no app to install, no account to listen.
04All languages on equal footing
Lingala, Swahili, Kabyle, Arabic or English: every language has the same place in the room.
Moïse B. Selph
Moïse B. Selph founded LOBAKA in Algiers. He presents the news and the Africa Tech programme on Ifrikya FM, where he follows what digital technology is changing across the continent.
Born in Algiers and rooted in an African vision, LOBAKA carries its Congolese origin in its name: “lobaka” means “speak” in Lingala. The name sums up the project: everyone should hear what is being said, in their own language.
His work on moisebselph.com (opens in a new tab)The rooms that move us forward.
Every pilot published here will be published with the agreement of the organization concerned.
No pilot results are published yet. Every result shown here will be published with the agreement of the organization concerned, and with real data:
- pilot organizations and venues tested
- events and languages
- number of sessions and participants
- feedback from participants and interpreters
Want to be one of the first rooms?
Congress, university, institution, church, festival: if your audience doesn't speak just one language, let's talk.