A groundbreaking app that converts spoken words into sign language through AI-powered 3D avatars has earned Kenyan innovator, Elly Savatia, top honours at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
Described as “Google Translate for sign language,” Savatia’s invention, Terp 360, is a web-based platform that delivers real-time sign language translation from speech and text, using photorealistic avatars. The innovation enables seamless communication between deaf and hearing individuals without the need for human interpreters.
Savatia received a £50,000 ($67,000) cash prize during a ceremony held on October 16 in Dakar, Senegal, emerging as the overall winner among four finalists from across the continent. The Africa Prize, one of the most prestigious recognitions for technology-driven entrepreneurship in Africa, celebrates innovators addressing critical local challenges through engineering.
Rebecca Enonchong, chair of the judging panel, praised Savatia’s creation for its ingenuity and impact. “Elly’s work shows that Africans are not just users of technology but creators of cutting-edge solutions that can transform lives globally,” she said.
For Savatia, the motivation behind Terp 360 stems from witnessing the barriers faced by deaf Kenyans in accessing education, health care, and employment. “To go to work, school, or the hospital, you need to communicate,” he explained. “But the deaf community is often left behind.”
While Kenya’s government has mandated that at least 5% of jobs be reserved for persons with disabilities, many companies still lack the resources to hire interpreters or implement accessible tools. Savatia believes Terp 360 provides a cost-effective solution to bridge that gap.
Developed in collaboration with Kenya’s deaf community, the app currently features over 2,300 recorded signs, including common words and phrases. Using motion sensors, developers captured real signers’ movements to create realistic digital gestures.
Unlike existing global sign language technologies, Terp 360 is tailored to African sign languages and cultural nuances. Currently, it supports translations from English and Swahili into Kenyan Sign Language, with plans to expand into Rwandan, Ugandan, South African, British, and American Sign Languages by 2027.
To scale further, the team is partnering with local NGOs, universities, and broadcasters to collect visual datasets. A new motion capture studio in Nairobi can now record up to 1,000 words daily, accelerating language inclusion across the continent.
“The Africa Prize aims to spotlight innovations that go beyond business to create real social impact,” Enonchong added. “Elly’s app does exactly that—it empowers, connects, and transforms lives.”
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