The Tyap language

Tyap is a Benue-Congo language spoken by approximately 255,000 people in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. Tyap is not taught in schools however, limiting access to formal learning materials. To address this gap, Kambai’s project will compile and publish a Tyap-English dictionary with at least 1,000 entries. Building on an existing draft, this effort will bring together members of the Tyap Language Development Board and the Tyap Wikimedia community, ensuring collaboration between experienced elders and younger contributors. The team will use specialized dictionary compilation tools, along with resources from Wikitongues and its partners, to refine and expand the entries. Once completed, the dictionary will undergo thorough review before publication.The final version will be made available in both print (with a goal of 1,000 copies) and digital formats, ensuring accessibility for those with and without internet access. A free version will also be published on Wikimedia Commons for wider distribution.

By creating a reliable and widely accessible Tyap-English dictionary, this project will provide an essential resource for language learners, educators, and speakers, helping to bridge the educational gap and support long-term language documentation and revitalization. After completing the dictionary, Kambai and the Tyap community have plans to establish the first Tyap language nest, teaching a new generation of speakers.

Kambai’s background

Kambai, also known as Levi, is from Fantswam (Kafanchan) in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. He hails from a region where Indigenous languages are not supported by the government for education, and he grew up in an area where his own language was not widely spoken. Driven by a passion for preserving the Tyap and sister Nenzit (Platoid) languages of Central Nigeria, Kambai became an advocate for minoritized languages. Between 2007 and 2020, he developed the Akai script, a writing system designed for Nenzit languages. In June 2014, Kambai founded the Tyap Language Institute of Nigeria (TyALIN), an organization dedicated to promoting the development of the Tyap language through social media. Later that year, he self-published a Tyap-English dictionary, further supporting language preservation. Today, he leads all Tyap-related projects on Wikimedia and co-founded several key initiatives, including the Tyap Wikipedia (2022), Tyap Wiktionary (2023), the Tyap Wikimedians User Group (2022), and its incorporated organization (2023). These efforts aim to make it easier for language learners of all ages to connect with their roots through technology and help boost the self-esteem of Tyap speakers, empowering them to protect, develop, and promote their cultural identity.