Orunmilang is an open-source programming language project that aims to bring programming closer to Yoruba speakers by using Yoruba keywords and syntax. This project is designed to enable developers to write code in Yoruba, making coding more accessible and culturally relevant.
# Orunmilang
**Orunmilang** is a minimal, beginner-friendly programming language inspired by the syntax and linguistic structure of Yoruba, a major African language spoken by millions in Nigeria 🇳🇬, Benin 🇧🇯, Togo 🇹🇬, and parts of Ghana 🇬🇭, Ivory Coast 🇨🇮, Sierra Leone 🇸🇱, and The Gambia 🇬🇲. Designed to teach programming fundamentals through culturally relevant constructs, **Orunmilang** bridges the gap between technology and indigenous knowledge systems. The name Orunmilang derives from Yoruba words: òrúnmìlà (the deity of wisdom and divination in Yoruba spirituality) and ọ̀rọ̀ (word or language), symbolizing a "language of wisdom." This reflects its mission to empower learners by making coding intuitive and culturally resonant.
**Orunmilang** was created as part of a master’s coursework project in Open Source Software at Nankai University, China, in 2025. It aims to democratize programming education by offering a tool that resonates with African and diasporic learners while being accessible to anyone interested in culturally inspired computing. In a world where technology often reflects Western paradigms, Orunmilang promotes diversity in tech by embedding Yoruba linguistic patterns, such as verb-object structures and tonal expressiveness, into its syntax. This makes it a powerful educational tool and a potential domain-specific language (DSL) for cultural computing, fostering inclusivity and representation in the global tech landscape.
## 🌍 Vision & Roadmap
**Orunmilang** aims to make programming inclusive by blending coding with Yoruba linguistic structures. It serves as an educational tool and potential domain-specific language (DSL) for cultural computing. Future goals include expanding the type system, adding data structures, and deepening cultural relevance.
### Short-term Goals:
- Add list/array support
- Implement basic file I/O
- Expand standard library
### Long-term Vision:
- Full Yoruba localization
- Visual programming interface
- E …