"Schools in the Malian capital Bamako are undertaking a historic shift, by introducing local language Bambara as the primary choice for education through the use of advanced learning technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The move aims to end the decades-long dominance of the French language — a colonial-era legacy — while helping to restore national identity and intellectual sovereignty within the country's education system. Footage captured on Tuesday shows a teacher discussing the changes with his students in the classroom. Other shots showcase digital learning applications dedicated to the Bambara language. "There are several apps that make it easier to learn the language, including RobotMali, which helps us learn Bambara easily without having to travel,” said student Couma Diane. The RobotsMali initiative has emerged as a key driver of this linguistic transformation, using artificial intelligence to produce more than 100 illustrated stories and educational materials in Bambara. “We have worked on two aspects of national languages. First, the audio aspect, which involves transcribing national languages and translating them into Bambara, French or English. Second, we have considered how we can help children take a greater interest in our language,” explained Mamadou Dembele, a specialist at RobotsMali. Beyond books, Dembele said the project is developing mobile apps to teach literacy, turning smartphones in Malian homes into interactive learning tools. Malian pupils have long struggled with French, a language foreign to most, while 70-80% already speak Bambara as their mother tongue. This linguistic gap has fueled high illiteracy and dropout rates, as children must study complex subjects in a foreign language. This shift aligns with Mali’s recent constitutional changes, including the 2023 constitution, which removed French’s status as an official language, redefining it as a working language, while granting official status too national languages like Bambara. The move is widely seen as an effort to break dependence on the country's former colonial power, and restore greater local identity within Mali’s education system."