Bio
Yinka Ajibola is a Ph.D. candidate at the Information School with a minor in African Studies. He earned his undergraduate degree in International Studies and Economics from Iowa, a Master’s degree in Political Science and Information Communication Sciences from Indiana. He is currently working on his dissertation which broadly examines how digital platforms are reshaping employment by challenging traditional notions of employment. He centers translators as key actors in Kenya’s gig economy, examining how they navigate the uncertainties of digital work, and he also highlights the role of language—particularly African languages that remain underrepresented online.
Travel Objectives
In the summer of 2025, I embarked on a research trip as part of my dissertation work. The primary goal of this trip was to collect essential data and network with professionals in both industry and academia. These connections were instrumental in helping me advance an applied project I am currently working on. During my first year at UW–Madison, I became involved with a Language AI group on campus, where I was introduced to the field of Machine Translation, particularly with African languages. This sparked my interest. My advisor, Professor Royston, has been a central guide throughout this process; his expertise in media and technology within the continent has helped me refine my research and strengthen my overall approach. At the same time, I have been inspired by the innovative work of Professor Agoke, whose scholarship on language and technology continues to shape my approach.
Travel Experience
This is actually my third time visiting Kenya. My very first research trip was in 2023, when I was just starting to explore my research topic. Having been back a few times now, I feel much more comfortable there. Learning Swahili also made a big difference—it helped me connect with people and settle in more easily.
One of the biggest things that changed my experience was networking. Before my first trip, I made an effort to reach out to people through social media and ask for introductions from others—basically, sending what some might call “cold emails.” This really helped me a lot. The people I connected with didn’t just help with my research by sharing information and resources; they were also kind enough to teach me about Kenyan culture, invite me to community events, and make me feel welcomed. Because of this, I felt like I was part of the community rather than just a visitor, which made my research much richer and more meaningful.
Impact
I was able to meet the objectives of my travel for the most part. During my time in Kenya, I engaged with several participants in person and also organized and facilitated a workshop tied to the applied component of my dissertation, which brought together both academic and industry professionals. However, there were some challenges along the way. A few participants I had planned to meet either did not show up or unexpectedly stopped communicating with me. While this was disappointing, I recognize that such setbacks are common in fieldwork. I view it as part of the process. The travel allowed me to move my research forward in ways that would not have been possible from the US and UW-Madison alone. Being on the ground in Kenya gave me the chance to collect original data, meet participants face-to-face, and host a workshop which are invaluable to my dissertation. I have now embarked on the writing phase with the hope to completing my chapters within the next year. Alongside this, I plan to advance the applied component of my dissertation, SwahiliVerse—a digital project that collects and curates innovative Swahili words and expressions that lack universally agreed-upon meanings. I look forward to engaging the East African community in Wisconsin and beyond on this project. I am also active on the job market and exploring both academic and non-academic career opportunities.
Travel Support
Part of the funding for this travel came from the Information School, and I was also fortunate to receive the Ebrahim Hussein Fellowship from the African Cultural Studies department. That fellowship provided me with additional funds that covered the research expenses during my trip. Both sources of funding were very important in making my research trip successful and productive.
Click here to support or apply to the Ebrahim Hussein Endowment for African research