The global wave of AI-assisted development, or “vibe coding,” has a significant blind spot, according to Ethiopian tech company Gebeya. While generative AI tools promise to lower the barrier to software creation, the Addis Ababa-based company argues they are being built without considering the African reality.
In response, Gebeya has launched ‘Gebeya Dala,’ an AI-powered app builder engineered specifically to address these local barriers. The platform enables users to build digital tools using simple voice or text prompts directly from a mobile phone, a move designed to unlock a vast, untapped pool of potential creators.
“While the world is excited about ‘Vibe Coding,’ the conversation misses a crucial point: the existing tools aren’t built for us,” said Amadou Daffe, CEO and Co-Founder of Gebeya.
The Friction with Global Tools
According to Daffe, the hype around global AI coding assistants ignores the structural challenges many Africans face daily. Gebeya Dala was built to solve a specific set of problems:
- Language Barriers: Dala is designed to accept natural language prompts in multiple African languages, including Amharic, Swahili, Hausa, and Arabic, in addition to English and French.
- The Device Gap: The platform is mobile-first. Gebeya notes that smartphone penetration far outpaces laptop access, meaning most global-facing, desktop-centric development tools are inaccessible to millions of young people.
- Payment & Forex: Daffe highlights the “lack of credit cards” and the “barrier of forex” as critical blockers. Subscribing to international SaaS products is often a non-starter for individuals without access to foreign currency or globally accepted payment methods.
Gebeya’s thesis is that the next wave of African innovation won’t come from those who can already navigate the global tech ecosystem, but from students, small business owners, and farmers with a smartphone and a local problem to solve.
How Dala Works
Gebeya Dala functions as a high-level interpreter. A user describes their app idea — for example, “build me a tool to track my crop prices in Amharic” — and the AI generates the full-stack code.
The company claims the platform is “context-aware,” with an innate understanding of local needs to create relevant solutions. The beta platform is now live, with a target of onboarding 30,000 users by the end of the year.
A Strategy Built on Partnerships
Building a tool is one challenge; distribution is another. Gebeya is candid about its need for partners to reach its ambitious goal of 1 million users.
The company has launched a call for collaboration with:
- Telecom Companies: To pre-load or promote Dala, ensuring access for mobile users.
- Educational Institutions: To integrate the tool into school curricula and coding clubs.
- Youth & NGO Groups: To bring digital skill-building to underserved communities.
- Government & Tech Hubs: To align with national digital transformation strategies.
“We have built the engine for digital creation. Now, we need partners who can help us put it in the hands of every aspiring African innovator,” said Kaleab Girma, Gebeya’s Head of Infrastructure.
The launch positions Gebeya Dala as a pointedly local alternative in the global generative AI race. Its success will depend on whether this focus on accessibility can convert smartphone users into a new class of African software creators.