Shanghai
Badges
Earned across Lughayangu · more paths coming soon
Path of the Word
Recognition for the definitions you share
Your first word is in
Swahili /NEH-noh lah KWAHN-zah/
"When you climb a good tree, you are given a push."
Earned · 1 approved definition
At home among us
Swahili /mweh-NYEH-jee/
"When your hands are in the dish, you share in what is in it."
Not yet · 3 approved definitions
Others lean on what you know
Swahili /m-JOO-zee/
"Understanding is the bridge a word crosses from one person to another."
Not yet · 10 approved definitions
People learn from your words
Swahili /mwah-LEE-moo/
"Wisdom shows itself in the moves you make."
Not yet · 25 approved definitions
A dictionary that walks among us
Swahili /kah-MOO-see HAH-ee/
"One who does not know true nsaa cloth buys the imitation."
Not yet · 100 approved definitions
Keeper of the people's words
Mande /JEH-lee/
"Skill and devotion, carried for the whole people."
Not yet · 250+ approved definitions
Path of Wisdom
Recognition for definitions readers find useful
Someone found your words useful
Swahili /shoo-KRAH-nee/
"The drum of goodwill is answered by the people."
Not yet · A like on one of your definitions
Praised by readers
Swahili /SEE-fah/
"A light that others use to find their way."
Not yet · 10 likes on your definitions
Readers keep choosing your words
Swahili /chah-GOO-oh lah WAH-too/
"Bite not one another: we grow by lifting each other up."
Not yet · 5 of your definitions liked by readers
The one people turn to
Swahili /m-shah-OO-ree/
"The snake climbs the raffia palm: patience does what seemed impossible."
Not yet · 25 of your definitions liked by readers
Path of the Answer
Recognition for the words you defined because someone asked
Someone asked, and you answered
Swahili /JEE-boo/
"Something is hoped for, and it arrives."
Not yet · Defined a word someone asked for
The one people come to
Swahili /keem-bee-LEE-oh/
"The fortress: where people come for shelter."
Not yet · Defined 5 words people asked for
You saw what people needed
Zulu /sah-woo-BOH-nah/
""I see you." "I am here.""
Not yet · Defined 25 words people asked for
Path of the Reader
Recognition for how often people read your words
A lamp for readers
Swahili /TAH-ah/
"That which cannot be burnt: words that last."
Not yet · 1,000 reads of words you defined
Your words light the way
Swahili /MWAHN-gah/
"The double drum carries the message far."
Not yet · 10,000 reads of words you defined
Read far and wide
Swahili /JOO-ah/
"The palm tree gives to everyone who comes to it."
Not yet · 100,000 reads of words you defined
Path of the Voice
Recognition for the Twista you submit
The first voice has spoken
Swahili /SAH-oo-tee yah KWAHN-zah/
"He who does not know can know by learning."
Not yet · 1 approved tongue twister
The keeper composes
Swahili /muh-TOON-zee/
"The depth of wisdom is what I have heard and kept."
Not yet · 5 approved tongue twisters
The linguist of the people
Akan /oh-CHAY-may/
"The chief's linguist carries every word that reaches the throne."
Not yet · 25 approved tongue twisters
Strength married to humility
Swahili /m-ZAY wah LOO-gah/
"Even the ram, mighty as he is, bows to the earth."
Not yet · 50+ approved tongue twisters
Path of Ngoma
The drum that gathers the community — for the festivals you bring to the map
Your first celebration is shared
Swahili /SOW-tee yah kah-RAH-moo/
"Little by little fills the measure — every feast begins with a single voice."
Not yet · 1 published festival
Keeper of the celebrations
Shona /GO-go/
"What the elder holds, the generations inherit."
Not yet · 5 published festivals
Host of the festivities
Wolof /teh-RAN-gah/
"Let the guest come, so the host may prosper."
Not yet · 15 published festivals
Many nations, one celebration
Igbo /ee-gweh-boo-EE-keh/
"There is strength in numbers — many nations gathered as one."
Not yet · Festivals in 3+ countries
Told in full detail
Swahili /kah-MEE-lee/
"A story told in full leaves nothing for the wind to carry away."
Not yet · Documented a festival in full detail
Path of Matamshi
Recognition for the word pronunciations you record
The one who pronounces
Swahili /m-tam-KA-ji/
"Life's journey twists and turns; so the tongue learns every sound."
Not yet · 1 approved pronunciation
The speaker of the people
Swahili /m-se-MA-ji/
"The wisdom knot is loosed only by the one who has learned to listen."
Not yet · 10 approved pronunciations
Mouth of the language
Swahili /KI-nywa cha LOO-gah/
"Great is the mouth that carries the whole language."
Not yet · 25 approved pronunciations
Guardian of pronunciation
Swahili /m-LEE-nzi wah ma-TA-mshi/
"It is not taboo to return for the sound the people have forgotten."
Not yet · 100 approved pronunciations
A voice for the generations
Swahili /SOW-tee yah vee-ZAH-zee/
"Your voice, once recorded, outlives you — the generations will hear it and learn."
Not yet · 250+ approved pronunciations
Path of the Tongue
Recognition for the Twista you record
Prepared, the tongue moves
Swahili /m-jah-REE-boo/
"Sew in readiness — the prepared one stands ready."
Not yet · 1 attempt recorded
The paddle keeps moving
Swahili /ho-DAH-ree/
"Persistence carries the canoe across the water."
Not yet · 50 attempts recorded
Teeth and tongue, one stomach
Swahili /GWEE-jee wah LOO-gah/
"Teeth and tongue go to food together, fight, and yet share one stomach."
Not yet · 100+ attempts recorded
Path of the Heart
Recognition for the love you receive
Hearts joined to yours
Akan /ah-KO-mah/
"Joined hearts beat in agreement."
Not yet · 10 reactions received
The star is faithful to the moon
Swahili /m-WEE-toh/
"Kyekye pe aware — the star never abandons the moon."
Not yet · 50 reactions received
Pan-African Reach
Recognition for the languages you carry
Bridge between tongues
Swahili /dah-RAH-jah/
"Conjoined crocodiles share one stomach — they fight, yet they are one."
Not yet · Twisters in 5+ languages, definitions in 5+ languages, or heroes from 5+ countries
We are linked, never broken
Swahili /SAH-oo-tee yah BAH-rah/
"We are linked in life and death; we never break apart."
Not yet · Twisters in 10+ languages, definitions in 10+ languages, or heroes from 10+ countries
Path of Memory
Recognition for the Heroes List you curate
The first hero stands beside you
"The first stone laid becomes the foundation of the temple."
Not yet · 1 hero on your Heroes List
Three roots in the ground
"A house with three pillars stands when the wind comes."
Not yet · 3 heroes on your Heroes List
The list now carries a thesis
"What is forgotten is reclaimed only by the one who looks back."
Not yet · Wrote a Heroes List manifesto
The pen carries what the heart chose
"What is written becomes what is remembered."
Not yet · Added notes to 5+ heroes on your list
You see the seam between epochs
"Two crocodiles share one stomach — what one eats nourishes the other."
Not yet · 3 heroes from the same decade on your list
Path of the Patron
Recognition for the heroes you summon to Lughayangu
The voice that says, do not forget
"The horn that calls is louder than the silence that forgets."
Not yet · Suggested 1 hero we did not have yet
What you summoned now lives here
"What you saved from being forgotten now stands inside the walls."
Not yet · 1 hero you suggested was added to the catalog
Path of the Mbegu
Recognition for the care you put into translating and reviewing
The first shoot breaks the soil
Swahili /chee-poo-KEE-zee/
"The seed of the wawa tree is hard, and it grows."
Not yet · Your first Phrasebank translation approved
Careful hands, steady rows
Swahili /m-koo-LEE-mah/
"The good farmer tends every row, not only the first."
Not yet · 10 translations in a row approved first time
The harvest others will eat from
Yoruba /ee-KOH-reh/
"A full sack is gathered one careful handful at a time."
Not yet · 50 translations in a row approved first time
A reviewer held it up to the light
Swahili /KEE-toh/
"The measuring stick shows what is truly well made."
Not yet · Your first reviewer's pick
Your work shines for others to follow
Hausa /tow-RAH-roh/
"A child of the heavens, the star keeps watch over those who follow."
Not yet · 10 reviewer's picks
The first to plant in this soil
Swahili /m-PAHN-zee/
"The earth has weight; what is planted first holds the ground for all."
Not yet · Planted the first approved translation in a language
An elder who keeps the language right
Akan /NAH-nah/
"The knot of peacemaking: settle it well, and all move on together."
Not yet · 50 reviews
One who raises others up
Swahili /m-LEH-zee/
"Love never loses its way home."
Not yet · 200 reviews
I am because we are
Nguni /oo-BOON-too/
"Help me, and let me help you."
Not yet · Your language circle reached 100 approved mbegu together
Mythic
Special moments, like being the first to add a word in a language
The grid laid before the first stamp
Swahili /m-tan-goo-LEE-zee/
"The lattice cut by hand precedes every symbol that will be stamped upon it."
Not yet · Submit the first approved twister in any language
Summoned by the people
Swahili /m-teh-OO-leh/
"Ananse the storyteller spins a web that gathers every voice."
Not yet · Have a twister featured on the homepage
The first word planted in a language
Swahili /mwahn-zee-LEE-shee/
"The house built to stand the wind shelters everyone who comes after."
Not yet · The first approved definition in a language
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Define words, record pronunciations, and earn your place among the keepers of Africa's languages.