The GRIOTS app
The Kayanou GRIOTS app will share the lives of notable people from our communities. Development has begun, and the app is set to launch by the end of 2026.
Why an app
For a history to stay alive, it has to reach young people. The GRIOTS app will carry the stories and portraits of notable people from our communities onto mobile devices, in an interactive space to learn, create and connect with their culture.
The app will connect young people with the experience of community elders, bridge the gap between generations and share common values. By making cultural and educational resources easy to reach, it will help build a community that is better informed, better connected and more self reliant.
Who it is for
- Young adultsEspecially Generation Z.
- Children aged 5 to 12Content suited to their age.
- The general publicCultural and educational resources that are easy to reach.
What will be in the app
- Biographical storiesThe lives of notable people from the community, to read and to listen to.
- Portrait archivesPortraits of people from the past and the present.
- Interactive educationContent made for young people and families.
- Active explorationTools that invite you to explore rather than read passively.
AmaniQuest
AmaniQuest will be the app’s quiz game about African and Francophone history. Each correct answer will unlock the portrait and story of a historical figure, to read or to listen to.
The game will make a complex history easy to follow and help young people remember it. Kayanou has already hosted AmaniQuest in person, at a trivia night in Edmonton.
In person
- AmaniQuest nightsTrivia evenings played in person, like the one in Edmonton.
- Workshops and panelsReading and writing workshops for students, and panels, during SILAB.
Where the project stands
Development of the GRIOTS app has begun. It is designed for mobile devices. The app is set to launch by the end of 2026.
Thanks
Kayanou thanks the Edmonton Heritage Council. Its support has gone toward the GRIOTS project and toward preserving, interpreting and sharing Edmonton’s diverse histories.
Follow the project
To learn more about the GRIOTS app, write to Kayanou.