Since adopting a new constitution in 2023, Mali recognizes 13 official languages, excluding French—the former colonial language though it remains widely used in schools and public life. To promote literacy in local languages, the Ministry of Education has partnered with AI company RobotsMali to produce educational materials in Bambara, the country’s most spoken language. RobotsMali has created over 100 stories for students, using AI tools like ChatGPT and Leonardo to write, translate, and illustrate them. The illustrated stories help pupils connect words with meanings more effectively, addressing a long-standing shortage of books in Malian languages.
“Since the stories are also illustrated, it teaches students to make connections between words and their meaning very quickly,” said RobotsMali founder Mamadou Dembele. Students are responding positively. “It helps me speak better with my friends. At school, we only speak French,” said 13-year-old Clarisse Yasségué Togo. Seventeen-year-old Fatoumata Sacko added, “Bambara is our language. We should prioritize it.”
Attempts to replace French-language education with local languages since independence in 1960 repeatedly failed due to limited resources and lack of political support. The RobotsMali initiative signals a renewed push to reclaim Mali’s linguistic heritage, especially after political shifts following the 2020 and 2021 coups. Dembele said, “It makes me proud to see my little brothers and sisters learning with so much joy,” highlighting the initiative’s cultural and educational impact. This project represents Mali’s broader effort to reduce French influence and strengthen national identity through local-language education.
