Our language school - Sankofa Lingua Academy

Language, culture, attitude to life

Who is behind Sankofa Language School?

Welcome to Sankofa Lingua, your contact for learning African languages and cultures. Find out more about us, our history and the people behind Sankofa on this page.

580

Course hours per month

1200+

Successful completions

900+

Satisfied customers since 2018

Discover the rich treasures of Africa

We show the diversity of a continent

Africa is not just a continent; it is a mosaic of cultures, traditions and languages. At Sankofa Lingua, we believe that language is the key to unlocking this incredible heritage. We offer courses in a variety of African languages, from Swahili and Zulu to Amharic and Yoruba. But why is this so important? Africa’s languages are not only means of communication; they are also carriers of cultural knowledge. Through them, stories are passed on, traditions are preserved and communities are strengthened.

Why we teach languages

Our vision: preservation of cultural assets

We live in a globalized world in which many of these languages and cultures are in danger of being lost. Our mission is therefore to create a sustainable awareness of this rich diversity. At Sankofa Lingua, we go beyond just language learning. Our courses are designed to provide a holistic understanding of each culture. We integrate music, art, and literature into the classroom to provide a comprehensive context. Our teachers are not only language experts, but also ambassadors of their own cultures. They share their knowledge and experience with you so that each course is a journey through the fascinating world of Africa.

Ambassador of the language

The team behind Sankofa Language School

Ambassador of the language

Our course instructors

Kwadwo Owusu Ansah

Course instructor Twi

Joy Ashitey

Course instructor Ga

Andrea Christa Manuel

Course instructor Lingala

Samuel Olawale Olatidoye

Course instructor Yoruba

Stanley Izuchukwu Ukonu

Course instructor Igbo

Hadiza Abdulƙadir Umar

Course instructor Hausa

Fabrice-Mbo Kingata

Course instructor Kikongo

Yolanda Nkosazana Nkqwitha

Course instructor Xhosa

Salma Rashid Adam

Course instructor Swahili

Kossi Aziabou

Course instructor Ewe

Mosisa Teferi Timotewos

Course instructor Amharic

Osawa Obonyo

Course Instructor Swahili

The team in the background

Your contact for all organizational matters

Akwasi Badu-Aning

CEO - Founder

The history of Sankofa

From the idea to the language school

2000s
A German-African heart
Having grown up partly in Ghana and in Berlin’s African community, our founder Akwasi, known as “Akki”, began to take a closer look at Ghanaian culture. Even then, he noticed that many people with Ghanaian roots hardly speak their mother tongue anymore. The praise of older people for their mastery of their mother tongue often seemed strange to Akki.
2015
African life in Germany becomes visible
Deeply rooted in the Ghanaian-African community in Berlin, Akwasi acted as a multiplier and gatekeeper for African life and culture in Berlin. In 2015, television also took notice. The Pro7 format “Galileo” accompanies Akwasi for a day through the hotspots of African life in Berlin.
2018
Speechlessness in the communities
Over time, it became clear that although traditional elements are practiced in many communities, the language is rarely passed on. Akki quickly realized that languages are a central component of every culture and that passing them on is crucial for understanding and preserving them.
2018
Together for the preservation of traditional languages
Together with the Ujamaa Culture Center e.V., initial discussions began about ways to combat this loss of language. It quickly became clear that a way had to be created to learn the languages that had been lost. The first language course for Twi, which is mainly spoken in Ghana, was launched
2020
Foundation of Sankofa Language School
The success of the first Twi courses encouraged Akki to start planning her own language school in 2019. In addition, more and more people approached us and asked for courses in other African languages as well. In 2020, the time had come: Sankofa offered the first 6 language courses.
2022
The range of languages is growing
The success of the first Twi courses encouraged Akki to start planning her own language school in 2019. In addition, more and more people approached us and asked for courses in other African languages as well. In 2020, the time had come: Sankofa offered the first 6 language courses.