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<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4cf4815f-d084-4154-b23b-b49a17aa4cb5/Screenshot_2023-08-25_094751.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/4cf4815f-d084-4154-b23b-b49a17aa4cb5/Screenshot_2023-08-25_094751.png" width="40px" /> Originally published in the South African Journal of Science

Biyela, S., Msomi, N. N., & Mumm, A. (2023). South African iLukuluku podcast shows we can talk about science in African languages. South African Journal of Science, 119(7/8). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/15648

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Authors

Sibusiso Biyela

Ntokozo N. Msomi

Anina Mumm

<aside> <img src="/icons/star_gray.svg" alt="/icons/star_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Significance

ILukuluku is the name of our African-language science communication podcast that includes curious Zulu-speaking communities in scientific discourse. The podcast entertains and educates Zulu listeners of all ages, by breaking down complex scientific topics using facts, linguistic quirks and humour. We contend that the iLukuluku podcast is a practical, proudly South African example of how ordinary citizens, science communicators, translators, scientists, and black people in particular, can work together to communicate science beyond English.

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Ilukuluku is a Zulu word for “curiosity”. It is also now the name of one of Mzansi’s first African-language science communication podcasts that specifically includes curious Zulu-speaking communities in scientific discourse.

Each episode is an entertaining, light-hearted dialogue between Zulu-speaking hosts Ntokozo Nomasiko Msomi, a professional language practitioner, and Sibusiso Biyela, a professional bilingual science communicator.

Msomi and Biyela had worked on several other science translation projects prior to starting their podcast. During this time they would often have lively debates with one another in a mixture of English and isiZulu, in just the same way many other South Africans do.

Many times their conversations would boil down to how certain technical or scientific words and concepts, for instance "dinosaur", “climate change” or "planet", just don't exist in isiZulu. They would argue about how, or even if, the language could be developed to better express scientific concepts.

They had recorded some of their debates, and their "presenter chemistry" was palpable to friends and colleagues who listened.

We were thus encouraged to share Biyela and Msomi’s often hilarious and gripping conversations with Zulu-speaking listeners from all walks of life. And so the iLukuluku podcast was born, as collaboration between local science communication non-profit organisation SciBraai (https://scibraai.co.za/), and People Of Colour Podcasts (*https://www.pocpods.com/*).

The podcast immediately gained media attention in publications like the Weekend Argus 1, and began trending the moment it was published on platforms like Apple iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

From a science communication and translation perspective, we believe that the podcast entertains, educates and includes Zulu listeners of all ages, because it breaks down complex scientific topics by blending facts, linguistic quirks and humour.

But we also believe this podcast is part of something bigger; something we support with both “vigour” and “passion”, the other meanings of ilukuluku; and something for which there is strong evidence: by coining new terms to help ordinary folks talk about science in their own African languages, we can begin to undo the distrust of science, and the exclusion from science, that remains entrenched by the legacy of colonisation on the African continent 2–4.

In fact, whether or not a person cares about the relevance of our colonial past, science communication research shows that talking to people about science in their own language does build trust in science 4. We therefore believe that translating science in African languages will include more people in the public understanding of science, science discourse and science education, and it can even improve healthcare 2.

In this commentary, we contend that the iLukuluku podcast is a practical, proudly South African example of how ordinary citizens, science communicators, translators, scientists, and black people in particular, can work together to communicate science beyond English.

We also argue below that our podcast supports the broader African project of decolonising science and science communication, and so we are calling on potential funders who want to support our work to email us at [email protected].