Nigerian Pidgin, a vibrant language spoken by hundreds of millions of Nigerians, has been making waves in music, film, and social media, becoming a signature voice of modern Nigerian culture. Despite its extensive global influence, the language has been underrepresented and undervalued, particularly in the digital realm. This is the void that Pidginary, a unique digital platform, seeks to fill. Pidginary is not just a dictionary, but a platform that dignifies Nigerian Pidgin, its expressions, and the cultural identity it signifies for millions of Nigerians worldwide.
We had a chance to talk with Raymond Okoro, a UK-based product designer and the founder of Pidginary, to understand the inspiration behind this innovative platform, the role of design in shaping the user experience, and the platform’s influence on today’s culture and technology.
Insight into Pidginary
Raymond Okoro observed a gap that lasted years. Despite its popularity, Nigerian Pidgin lacked a modern digital representation. It was often viewed as a crude language, including by Nigerians themselves. Digital resources that did exist were outdated and lacked the thoughtful design that connects people with modern platforms.
Raymond aimed to accord Nigerian Pidgin the same respect and visibility that other global languages enjoy. Recognising language as a reflection of identity, Raymond embarked on developing Pidginary, a digital dictionary and cultural platform that redefines the representation and perception of Nigerian Pidgin.
The Relevance of Pidginary in Today’s Context
Nigerian culture has been gaining increased global recognition, with elements such as Afrobeats, Nollywood, and fashion gaining popularity. People are becoming more curious about the language and expressions behind the music, movies, and social media trends dominating the internet.
Nigerian Pidgin is at the heart of this cultural shift, influencing the rhythm and humor in lyrics, punchlines in viral videos, and the expression of Nigerian identity online. Despite its extensive reach, the language lacked proper documentation, which is precisely what Pidginary aims to provide.
Pidginary plays a significant role in bridging cultural gaps. It helps people worldwide understand a language deeply rooted in global pop culture, while instilling a renewed sense of pride among Nigerians in seeing their everyday language treated with care and design.
Design and Pidginary: An Interplay
Raymond’s background as a designer significantly influenced the development of Pidginary. The platform is built entirely with AI, featuring a user-friendly interface with typography and colours that enhance readability while reflecting Nigerian heritage.
The platform is designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easy for users to explore the dictionary, discover words, and understand Nigerian Pidgin better. Raymond’s design expertise played a crucial role in ensuring the platform’s navigation is familiar and user-friendly.
The Intended Users of Pidginary
Pidginary caters to anyone connected to or interested in Nigerian Pidgin. This includes students, linguists, creatives, diaspora communities, and expatriates working in Nigeria who wish to understand the language better.
The platform is dynamic and interactive, enabling users to suggest new words, contribute meanings, or share how they use expressions in different regions. This keeps the dictionary up-to-date and reflective of the language’s ever-evolving nature.
Impact of Pidginary on the Tech Space
With platforms like Pidginary, the boundaries between designer, builder, and founder continue to blur. Today, a single person can transform an idea into a product, signalling an exciting disruption in the tech space. Raymond believes that design will be the differentiator between soulless digital products and those that users genuinely connect with in the AI era.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Pidginary
Launched in September, Pidginary has been well received by the global creative and tech community. Future plans include expanding the word base, integrating more advanced translation tools, enabling greater community contribution, and developing a dedicated mobile app with personalised features.
Pidginary is more than just a dictionary; it’s a cultural statement and a mission to give Nigerian Pidgin the representation and respect it deserves, especially in a world where African contexts are often overlooked in design and branding. The positive response to Pidginary assures Raymond that the world genuinely needs this platform, and he looks forward to its future evolution.
Source: Here
