In recent years, several African social networks, including Ushahidi, Blueworld, and Eskimi, have emerged with varying degrees of success. In Togo, Bienvenu Fanagnon has developed a social network designed to highlight the continent's talent and rich cultural heritage.

Afrolook is a social network developed by a Togolese startup based in Lomé. It allows users to capture unique moments through photos and videos and communicate via messages. Launched in 2024 by Bienvenu Fanagnon, the platform aims to bring African culture to the forefront.

“Afrolook is an African social network developed by a group of students, built on AI models called XILO and inspired by African culture. [...] We aim to create an engaging and authentic experience to promote African culture on a global scale,” explains Fanagnon.

Currently available only on Android, Afrolook has already been downloaded over 100 times, according to Play Store data. Users must create an account to access its features. One notable tool is the conversational agent XILO, which engages users in discussions on various topics for entertainment. However, it’s worth noting that the platform is still in its testing phase.

The network integrates many familiar concepts from platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Users can post diverse content—photos, videos, or text—to express their creativity and share ideas on various topics. They can also discover inspiring content created by African users worldwide or follow others to stay updated on their shared posts.

Afrolook also fosters community interaction by enabling users to like, comment on, or share posts. Additionally, the startup has introduced a monetization program to reward the platform’s most impactful content creators.

Adoni Conrad Quenum