Discover African heritage through names, culture, and traditions
Live Demo • Features • User Guide • Screenshots • Roadmap
TribeGuess is an educational entertainment web application that predicts African tribal heritage based on names. It combines a sophisticated name-matching algorithm with a comprehensive cultural encyclopedia covering 250+ tribes across 25+ African countries.
The app serves as:
- 🔮 A Guessing Game - Enter a name and discover its likely tribal origin
- 📚 A Cultural Encyclopedia - Explore detailed information about African tribes, languages, traditions, recipes, and religions
- 🎓 A Learning Platform - Quizzes, flashcards, and daily challenges to test your knowledge
To celebrate and preserve African cultural diversity by making tribal heritage accessible, educational, and engaging for a global audience.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🔮 Name-Based Tribe Detection | AI-powered algorithm analyzing 9,000+ name patterns, prefixes, and suffixes |
| 📚 Tribe Encyclopedia | Detailed pages for 250+ tribes with history, culture, meal traditions, and trade relations |
| 🗺️ Interactive Maps | OpenStreetMap integration showing tribal territories with custom overlays |
| 🍲 Traditional Recipes | 100+ authentic African dishes with ingredients, instructions, and YouTube tutorials |
| ⛪ Religion Explorer | 29 documented religions with comparison tools and animated timeline maps |
| 🗣️ Language Families | 16 language groups with phrases, audio pronunciations, and tribe connections |
| 🎯 Quiz System | 9+ categories with 75+ questions, flashcards, daily challenges, and achievements |
| 📝 Cultural Blog | SEO-optimized articles on naming traditions, history, and cuisine |
- Multi-Country Support: Tracks tribes across borders (e.g., Fulani across 13+ countries)
- URL State Synchronization: All filters and searches are shareable via URL
- Religious Name Detection: Identifies Muslim/Christian names and suggests relevant tribes
- Global Origin Detection: Recognizes non-African name patterns and explains connections
- Audio Pronunciations: Web Speech API with African accents for greetings and phrases
- Meal Traditions: Eating customs, taboos, and hospitality practices for each tribe
- Trade & Independence History: Historical trade relations and anti-colonial resistance
Enter a name and select a country to discover the likely tribal origin with cultural insights.
Filter 250+ tribes by country, region, language family, and population with Grid/List/Map views.
Comprehensive tribe profiles with culture documentaries, greetings, stereotypes, and traditions.
Articles on African naming traditions, ethnic diversity, and culinary heritage with region/topic filters.
100+ authentic dishes organized by tribe with ingredients, cooking times, and YouTube tutorials.
Explore 29 traditional religions with statistics dashboard, comparison tool, and animated trade route map.
Test your knowledge with quizzes, flashcards, daily challenges, and 13 unique achievements.
16 language groups with 2,000+ languages, common phrases, and audio pronunciations.
- Go to the Home Page at tribeguess.com
- Select a Country from the dropdown (e.g., 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇳🇬 Nigeria) or choose "All Africa"
- Enter a First Name - First names work best for analysis
- Click "Guess the Tribe" or press Enter
- View Results - See the predicted tribe(s) with match confidence and cultural insights
Pro Tips:
- Use the "Show Advanced Clues" button to add time of birth, region, build, and personality for more accurate predictions
- Try popular names shown below the search bar for your selected country
- Share results via URL - the entire prediction is encoded in the link!
- Navigate to Learn at /learn
- Search by tribe name or use filters:
- 🌍 Country Filter: Click flags to filter by specific countries
- 🗺️ Region Filter: Select macro-regions (West Africa, East Africa, etc.)
- 🗣️ Language Family: Filter by Bantu, Nilotic, Cushitic, etc.
- 📊 Advanced Filters: Population range, view mode (Grid/List/Map)
- Click a Tribe Card to view the full detail page
- Explore Sections: Documentary videos, greetings, name meanings, stereotypes, traditions
- Navigate to Recipes at /recipes
- Browse Ingredients: Click traditional ingredients to learn about staples like Cassava, Plantain, Shea Butter
- Filter by Tribe: Use the tribe filter pills to find dishes from specific ethnic groups
- View Recipe Details: Ingredients, step-by-step instructions, cooking time, and video tutorials
- Discover Connections: Each recipe links back to the tribe and language family pages
- Navigate to Religions at /religions
- View Statistics Dashboard: See religion counts, regional distribution, and follower estimates
- Compare Religions: Use the Compare Tool to see side-by-side tenets and practices
- Explore Timeline Map: See animated trade routes and historical spread of religions
- Click Religion Cards: View detailed pages with beliefs, rituals, and connected tribes
- Navigate to Quiz at /quiz
- Start Daily Challenge: Answer 5 random questions in 90 seconds to build your streak
- Choose a Category: 9+ categories including Famous Africans, Colonial History, Music & Dance
- Earn Achievements: Complete challenges for badges like "Speed Demon" and "Perfect Day"
- Study with Flashcards: Review cultural facts in flashcard mode
- Navigate to Languages at /languages
- Explore Language Families: Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Khoisan, and more
- Listen to Phrases: Click audio buttons to hear pronunciations with African accents
- Connect to Tribes: Each language family links to the tribes that speak it
| Route | Description |
|---|---|
tribeguess.com/ |
Home - Guess tribe by name |
tribeguess.com/learn |
Encyclopedia - Browse all tribes |
tribeguess.com/learn/:slug |
Tribe Detail - Individual tribe page |
tribeguess.com/random |
Random - Discover a random tribe |
tribeguess.com/blog |
Blog - Cultural articles and insights |
tribeguess.com/recipes |
Recipes - Traditional African dishes |
tribeguess.com/religions |
Religions - Spiritual traditions directory |
tribeguess.com/quiz |
Quiz - Test your knowledge |
tribeguess.com/languages |
Languages - African language families |
tribeguess.com/global-origins |
Global Origins - Non-African name explorer |
tribeguess.com/religion-timeline |
Religion Timeline - Animated historical map |
Filter Examples:
| URL | Description |
|---|---|
/learn?country=NG |
Nigerian tribes only |
/learn?macroRegion=West%20Africa |
West African tribes |
/learn?languageFamily=Bantu |
Bantu-speaking tribes |
/?name=Wanjiku&country=KE |
Direct guess for Wanjiku (Kenya) |
tribeguess/
├── public/
│ ├── docs/ # 📸 Documentation screenshots
│ ├── tribes/ # Tribe-specific images
│ ├── favicon.png # Site favicon
│ ├── og-image.png # Social sharing preview
│ ├── sitemap.xml # SEO sitemap
│ └── robots.txt # SEO crawl rules
│
├── src/
│ ├── __tests__/ # Regression Test System
│ │ ├── REGRESSION_TESTS.md # Comprehensive test specification
│ │ ├── CHANGE_CHECKLIST.md # Pre/post change verification
│ │ └── testUtils.ts # Automated test utilities
│ │
│ ├── assets/
│ │ └── logo.png # Main application logo
│ │
│ ├── components/
│ │ ├── ui/ # shadcn/ui component library
│ │ ├── AudioGreeting.tsx # Audio pronunciation with accents
│ │ ├── BlogAudioPlayer.tsx # Text-to-speech for articles
│ │ ├── CulturalLandmarks.tsx # Landmark cards and maps
│ │ ├── DailyChallenge.tsx # Daily quiz challenge widget
│ │ ├── DynamicMapView.tsx # Africa-wide interactive map
│ │ ├── GlobalOriginCard.tsx # Non-African name origin display
│ │ ├── GuessForm.tsx # Name input with advanced clues
│ │ ├── Header.tsx # Navigation with Random button
│ │ ├── Footer.tsx # Global footer navigation
│ │ ├── ImageGallery.tsx # Tribe culture photo gallery
│ │ ├── PopulationPieChart.tsx # Multi-country population chart
│ │ ├── RelatedBlogs.tsx # Related articles section
│ │ ├── ReligionStatsDashboard.tsx # Religion statistics
│ │ ├── ShareButton.tsx # Social sharing popover
│ │ ├── TopTribesCarousel.tsx # Featured tribes slider
│ │ ├── TribeCard.tsx # Tribe preview card
│ │ ├── TribeFamilyTree.tsx # Ethnic lineage visualization
│ │ ├── TribeMap.tsx # Individual tribe territory map
│ │ └── TribeResultCard.tsx # Prediction result display
│ │
│ ├── data/
│ │ ├── tribes.json # Master tribe database (250+ tribes)
│ │ ├── recipes.ts # Traditional recipes database
│ │ ├── ingredients.ts # African ingredients database
│ │ ├── traditionalReligions.ts # Religion data and mappings
│ │ ├── tribeLandmarks.ts # Cultural landmarks with GPS
│ │ ├── languageFamilies.json # Language families data
│ │ ├── blogPosts.json # Cultural blog articles
│ │ └── quizzes.json # Quiz questions and categories
│ │
│ ├── hooks/
│ │ ├── use-mobile.tsx # Mobile detection hook
│ │ ├── use-toast.ts # Toast notification hook
│ │ ├── useGlobalSearch.ts # Combined search hook
│ │ ├── useDailyChallenge.ts # Daily challenge state
│ │ └── useQuizResults.ts # Quiz results and achievements
│ │
│ ├── lib/
│ │ ├── tribeDetection.ts # Core detection algorithm
│ │ ├── globalOrigins.ts # Non-African name origins
│ │ ├── tribeLinks.ts # Tribe linking utilities
│ │ └── utils.ts # Utility functions
│ │
│ └── pages/
│ ├── Index.tsx # Home - guess form
│ ├── Learn.tsx # Encyclopedia - grid/map view
│ ├── TribePage.tsx # Individual tribe detail
│ ├── Blog.tsx # Cultural articles list
│ ├── BlogPost.tsx # Individual article page
│ ├── Recipes.tsx # Recipe directory
│ ├── RecipePage.tsx # Individual recipe page
│ ├── IngredientPage.tsx # Ingredient detail page
│ ├── ReligionsPage.tsx # Religion directory
│ ├── ReligionDetailPage.tsx # Individual religion page
│ ├── ReligionTimeline.tsx # Animated trade route map
│ ├── ReligionCompare.tsx # Religion comparison tool
│ ├── Quiz.tsx # Quiz and flashcards
│ ├── LanguagesIndex.tsx # Language families directory
│ ├── LanguageFamilyPage.tsx # Individual language family
│ ├── GlobalOrigins.tsx # Non-African origins explorer
│ ├── RandomTribe.tsx # Random tribe redirect
│ ├── Privacy.tsx # Privacy policy
│ ├── Terms.tsx # Terms of service
│ └── NotFound.tsx # 404 page
│
├── index.html # HTML template with SEO meta
├── tailwind.config.ts # Tailwind configuration
├── vite.config.ts # Vite build configuration
└── vercel.json # Vercel deployment config
| Technology | Purpose | Version |
|---|---|---|
| React | UI Framework | ^18.3.1 |
| TypeScript | Type Safety | ~5.6.2 |
| Vite | Build Tool | ^5.4.11 |
| Tailwind CSS | Styling | ^3.4.17 |
| shadcn/ui | Component Library | Latest |
| React Router | Navigation | ^6.30.1 |
| Library | Purpose |
|---|---|
@tanstack/react-query |
Data fetching & caching |
lucide-react |
Icon library |
react-helmet-async |
SEO meta management |
sonner |
Toast notifications |
recharts |
Data visualization (charts) |
embla-carousel-react |
Carousel component |
react-hook-form + zod |
Form management & validation |
date-fns |
Date utilities |
| Service | Usage |
|---|---|
| OpenStreetMap | Interactive map tiles |
| YouTube Embed | Documentary videos |
| Web Speech API | Audio pronunciation |
| Wikimedia Commons | Cultural imagery |
- Node.js 18+
- npm or bun
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/tribeguess.git
# Navigate to project directory
cd tribeguess
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Start development server
npm run devnpm run build
npm run preview| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🆕 Comprehensive Tribe Data | 250+ tribes with eatingCustoms, tradeRelations, independenceHistory |
| 🆕 Language Families System | 16 language groups with phrases, audio, and tribe connections |
| 🆕 Recipe-Language Cross-Linking | Bidirectional navigation between recipes and language families |
| 🆕 Religion Timeline Map | Animated trade routes showing historical religious spread |
| 🆕 Quiz & Achievements | 9 categories, 75+ questions, 13 achievements, daily challenges |
| 🆕 Global Origins Explorer | Non-African name pattern detection with diaspora connections |
| 🆕 Mobile-Responsive Dropdowns | Country dropdown shows flag + name on mobile |
| Ingredients Database | Dedicated pages for African staples (Plantain, Shea Butter, etc.) |
| Religion Comparison Tool | Compare up to 4 religions side-by-side |
| Audio Pronunciations | Web Speech API with African accents for all language families |
| Task | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Add More Tribe Images | Gallery images for tribes currently lacking visuals | Visual appeal |
| Central African Expansion | Add DR Congo, Cameroon, CAR tribes with full data | Data completeness |
| Tribe Migration Maps | Interactive visualization of historical migrations | Education |
| Image Lazy Loading | Lazy load tribe images in grid view | Performance |
| PWA Support | Service worker for offline access | Accessibility |
| Task | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Tribe Comparison Tool | Side-by-side culture comparison | Education |
| Name Submission Form | Allow users to submit new name meanings | Community |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | G/L/M keys for view switching | Power users |
| Multi-language UI | Translate to French, Swahili, Portuguese | Reach |
| More Blog Articles | Expand coverage of Central/North African topics | Content |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Family Tree Builder | Map multi-tribal heritage |
| AR Name Cards | Augmented reality name meaning cards |
| Voice Search | Speak a name to search |
| Historical Timeline | Interactive migration timelines |
| API for Developers | Public API for tribe data |
| Mobile App | React Native or PWA app |
| User Accounts | Save favorites, track quiz progress |
| Issue | Status | Workaround |
|---|---|---|
| Some smaller tribes lack gallery images | In progress | Adding images progressively |
| Speech synthesis has limited African language support | Browser limitation | Falls back to closest locale |
| Religion pie charts may not render on first load | Low priority | Refresh the page |
This section tracks missing, incomplete, or incorrect data that needs community contributions.
The following regions have limited or no tribal coverage:
| Country | Missing Tribes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | Digil, Rahanweyn, Jareer | Only Somali/Isaaq covered |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | Afar (detailed profile) | Basic entry exists |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | Dinka (detailed), Nuer, Shilluk, Azande | Major gaps |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | Beja, Nubians (detailed), Fur | Limited coverage |
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇩 DR Congo | ✅ Added | Luba, Mongo, Kongo, Bakongo with full profiles |
| 🇨🇬 Congo-Brazzaville | ✅ Added | Mbochi profile added |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | Partial | Toubou, Zaghawa added; Sara, Arabs needed |
| 🇨🇫 CAR | ✅ Added | Gbaya, Banda, Mandjia profiles added |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | ✅ Added | Fang, Punu, Myene, Mitsogo profiles |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | ✅ Added | Bubi, Fang profiles |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | ❌ Missing | Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, Bakongo needed |
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | ✅ Added | Egyptian Arab, Nubian profiles with full cultural data |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | ❌ Missing | Berber/Amazigh, Tuareg (LY), Toubou (LY) needed |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | ✅ Added | Tunisian Arab profile with history and conflicts |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | ✅ Added | Amazigh, Kabyle, Chaoui profiles with detailed history |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | ✅ Added | Moroccan Arab, Amazigh profiles |
These tribes exist but need more data:
| Tribe | Country | Missing Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Tuareg | Mali/Niger | eatingCustoms, gallery images |
| Bambara | Mali | tradeHistory, independenceHistory |
| Dogon | Mali | Cultural landmarks, YouTube video |
| Songhai | Niger/Mali | religiousInfluence, recipes |
| Moors | Mauritania | genderRoles, gallery images |
| Haratin | Mauritania | Historical context, recipes |
| Hausa (Niger) | Niger | Differentiation from Nigerian Hausa |
| Djerma | Niger | eatingCustoms, landmarks |
| Himba | Namibia | tradeHistory, recipes |
| San | Botswana/Namibia | independenceHistory, modernization |
| Berber | Morocco/Algeria | Full profile needed |
Tribes lacking verified GPS landmarks in tribeLandmarks.ts:
| Region | Tribes Needing Landmarks |
|---|---|
| Sahel | Tuareg, Bambara, Dogon, Songhai, Moors, Djerma |
| Central Africa | Fang, Myene, Punu, Bubi, Hutu, Tutsi |
| Southern Africa | Himba, San, Tswana, Ndebele, Venda |
| Horn of Africa | Somali (more), Afar, Dinka, Nuer |
All broken YouTube video IDs have been replaced with working tutorials:
| Old Video ID | Status | Used In | New Video ID |
|---|---|---|---|
Ys1i6rXKp1Q |
✅ Fixed | Chikwanga, Funge, Chokwe recipes | CJSs3Op2iu0 |
y4fCVmL9Wgo |
✅ Fixed | Millet/porridge (Himba, Sara, Toubou) | jcjKAF_G56g |
y4fCVmL9Wgo |
✅ Fixed | Nshima recipes (Lunda, Yao, Lozi, Ngoni, Tumbuka) | j3XN0gosaq8 |
y4fCVmL9Wgo |
✅ Fixed | Makonde Ugali | c4T0MU0gjcA |
qPNxS3z2ckM |
✅ Fixed | Liboke (Mongo, Chokwe) | igiBDfuL5KU |
qPNxS3z2ckM |
✅ Fixed | Okra stews (Ngombo, Daraba) | 1LF1R-23g9g |
1NxD3Hp_L_U |
✅ Fixed | Zimbabwe greens (Muriwo) | f4mODRjE1vc |
1NxD3Hp_L_U |
✅ Fixed | Peanut greens (Lunda, Tumbuka) | 5FWQPgHiRms |
Working Video IDs (Verified):
| Video ID | Recipe | Status |
|---|---|---|
5cuGbmPtLGE |
Mukimo | ✅ Working |
lie8xwHRG44 |
Omena | ✅ Working |
siv6d9f4kx4 |
Nyama Choma | ✅ Working |
jDbUg4f9EFw |
Jollof Rice | ✅ Working |
2oRDGbJtNJA |
Injera | ✅ Working |
jcjKAF_G56g |
Millet Porridge | ✅ Working |
j3XN0gosaq8 |
Zambian Nshima | ✅ Working |
c4T0MU0gjcA |
Ugali Tutorial | ✅ Working |
igiBDfuL5KU |
Congolese Liboke | ✅ Working |
1LF1R-23g9g |
Ghana Okra Stew | ✅ Working |
f4mODRjE1vc |
Zimbabwe Muriwo | ✅ Working |
5FWQPgHiRms |
Peanut Butter Greens | ✅ Working |
| Category | Needed |
|---|---|
| Sahel Cuisine | Thiakry (Senegal), Dégué (Mali), Millet couscous |
| Central African | Palm wine (detailed), More DRC dishes |
| Horn of Africa | Kitcha (Eritrea), More Somali variations |
| Beverages | Palm wine regions, Hibiscus drinks, Baobab juice |
| Recipe | Tribe | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Shakshuka | Tunisian Arab | North Africa |
| Harira | Moroccan Arab | North Africa |
| Chorba Frik | Algerian | North Africa |
| Funge | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Calulu | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Muamba de Galinha | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Chikuanga | Chokwe | Central Africa |
| 30+ Central African recipes | Various | Central/Southern |
| Category | Needed |
|---|---|
| Sahel Cuisine | Thiakry (Senegal), Dégué (Mali), Millet couscous |
| Central African | Palm wine (detailed), More DRC dishes |
| Horn of Africa | Kitcha (Eritrea), More Somali variations |
| Beverages | Palm wine regions, Hibiscus drinks, Baobab juice |
| Recipe | Tribe | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Shakshuka | Tunisian Arab | North Africa |
| Harira | Moroccan Arab | North Africa |
| Chorba Frik | Algerian | North Africa |
| Funge | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Calulu | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Muamba de Galinha | Ovimbundu | Central/Angola |
| Chikuanga | Chokwe | Central Africa |
| 30+ Central African recipes | Various | Central/Southern |
Expand languageFamilies.json with:
| Family | Subgroups Needed |
|---|---|
| Afroasiatic | Coptic (historical), Berber subgroups |
| Nilo-Saharan | Fur-Amdang, Saharan, Songhay (expanded) |
| Khoisan | Detailed breakdown of click languages |
| Austronesian | Malagasy (Madagascar connection) |
| Data Point | Issue | Source Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Some population estimates | May be outdated (pre-2020) | Joshua Project 2024 |
| Trans-border tribe distributions | Border changes not reflected | Ethnologue 2024 |
| Religion percentages | Colonial-era estimates | Pew Research |
| Some name meanings | Unverified folk etymologies | Academic sources |
| Trade route dates | Approximations | Historical archives |
-
Use Issue Templates: Visit GitHub Issues and select the appropriate template:
data_new_tribe.yml- Add a new tribedata_new_recipe.yml- Add a traditional recipedata_spelling_correction.yml- Fix spelling/translation errorsdata_name_meaning.yml- Add/correct name meaningsdata_new_language.yml- Add language family datadata_famous_person.yml- Add notable person to quiz
-
Required for All Contributions:
- Source citation (academic paper, official website, or museum)
- Country and region context
- Verification that data doesn't already exist
-
Image Contributions:
- Must be Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons, or original
- Include attribution and license information
- Minimum resolution: 800x600
All tribe data is triple fact-checked against verified sources:
- Ethnologue (ethnologue.com) - Language data
- Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net) - Population estimates
- Wikipedia (with cross-referencing) - Historical context
- Gikuyu Cultural Foundation
- Buganda Kingdom Archives
- Luo Cultural Heritage
- YorubaName.com
- Ulwazi Programme (South Africa)
- YouTube documentaries (manually verified)
- Wikimedia Commons (cultural photography)
Contributions are welcome! Please read our contributing guidelines before submitting PRs.
- Data Entry: Adding tribes from Central/North Africa
- Translations: UI in African languages (French, Swahili, Arabic)
- Verification: Cross-checking name meanings and population data
- Photography: Cultural images with proper licensing
- Content: Blog articles on underrepresented regions
This project is for educational and entertainment purposes. Tribe data is compiled from public sources.
This application is for entertainment and educational purposes only.
- Predictions are based on common naming patterns and may not be accurate for all names
- Stereotypes presented are common perceptions and may not apply to individuals
- We respect all cultures and aim to celebrate African diversity
- Always verify important cultural information with authoritative sources
Made with ❤️ for African Cultural Heritage
