Aw ni ce! I'm happy to share that there are now over 11,000 subscribers to the An ka taa YouTube channel! 🎉
I'm incredibly grateful for all the support, and I hope that I can continue as a teacher producing high-quality educational videos that help people learn and discover Manding and the people and the cultural practices behind it for years to come.
T-Shirts!
This milestone coincides with the something new: An ka taa t-shirts!
So, you're probably wondering—why T-shirts? Isn't "An ka taa" about serious educational content for speaking and learning Manding? Yes, it is. That's why I hesitated to offer any kind of An ka taa merchandise for a long time.
But over the years, I regularly have heard from people interested in merch.
This has often come from those of you that would like to support, but don’t want to be patrons. Your suggested solution was straightforward: Make T-shirts.
Additionally, my students, from both AKT online courses and private lessons, have always suggested that t-shirts with Manding words could be a fun and educational way to promote the language and its learning.
At first, I was hesitant, wondering if it was a little too frivolous. But in the end, I came around to the idea that fun is an essential part of learning. And what better way to initiate conversations and generate interest in Manding than wearing it on your chest?
"An ka taa dòròn!"
After brainstorming and tweaking the design, I settled on the phrase "An ka taa dɔrɔn," which nicely captures what AKT is about. The phrase means "Let's go only," but the vibe is more like "Let's do this!" or "Let's get 'er done!" A nice motivational phrase for students working to learn the language :-) The sentence also plays on words, as it could mean "Only 'An ka taa'", which is a little bit like saying "An ka taa all day".
A sample of the “An ka taa” 2023 Shirt (a little wrinked—sorry!)
How to Get Yours
Interested in picking up a shit? You can find the link to buy your own AKT T-shirt by clicking here.
Whether you are a patron, a student, or just a fan—thanks for the support!