Arabic, Moroccan Darija and Quran online across Sub-Saharan Africa

Different countries, different reasons to learn

Learners in Africa come with very different starting points. In Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania and northern Nigeria many already read the Quranic script from childhood; in Kenya and Tanzania Swahili has given them familiar Arabic vocabulary; in South Africa families often combine madrasah with private support. Others have no background at all and want Moroccan Darija for a Moroccan partner, colleague or move to Morocco. Each country page explains what usually fits learners there.

Which Arabic does Lisanova teach?

Lisanova teaches two kinds of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA, Fusha) — the formal Arabic of books, news, documents and Islamic scholarship — and Moroccan Darija, the everyday spoken Arabic of Morocco. Quran lessons are a separate path. It does not teach Shuwa (Chadian), Sudanese or Hassaniya Arabic, or any dialect other than Moroccan Darija.

Lessons are not explained in Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Amharic, Wolof or other African languages.

Choosing by goal

Work: MSA for formal Arabic used in documents and meetings; Moroccan Darija if your colleagues or clients are Moroccan. Study: MSA grammar and reading, often with your own course texts. Travel or a move to Morocco: Moroccan Darija for daily conversation.

Family: Moroccan Darija for a Moroccan spouse and in-laws. Heritage: MSA or Darija depending on what your family speaks. Quran: reading, Tajweed, memorization with revision or meanings. Children: private Arabic or Quran lessons at their own pace. The related pages below explain each path.

Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean

Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho with Eswatini, Madagascar, and Mauritius with Seychelles each have an English page. Madagascar, Mauritius with Seychelles, and the Comoros also have pages in French. The Southern Africa and Indian Ocean overview compares explanation languages and time differences across all of them.

The Horn of Africa

Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea each have their own page, Hargeisa and Berbera share one, and Djibouti also has a page in French. The Horn of Africa overview helps you choose between MSA, Quran and Moroccan Darija and links the Ethiopia and Sudan pages too.

West Africa in English

Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Gambia and Cameroon each have their own English page, and the West Africa overview compares them side by side. Cameroon’s page also explains how to choose between English and French explanations.

Rwanda

Rwanda’s official languages include Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili; Lisanova explains in English or French. Kigali is on UTC+2, usually one hour ahead of Morocco.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

French is the main language of education and business in the DRC, so French-explained lessons usually fit best. Kinshasa is on UTC+1 and Lubumbashi on UTC+2 — say which city you are in when you send preferred times.

Explanation language

Lisanova has teachers who explain lessons in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as in Arabic; not every teacher speaks every one of these languages. The Arabic you learn is a separate choice from the explanation language. Francophone learners can also read the French pages for Senegal, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we match you with a suitable teacher.

Lesson times

West African countries such as Senegal, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania are on UTC+0; Nigeria and Cameroon on UTC+1; South Africa and much of southern Africa on UTC+2; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia on UTC+3. Morocco is on UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during Ramadan.

When you book the free trial or ask on WhatsApp, send your city and two or three preferred local times. The academy replies with a proposed time in your local time and in Morocco time; the lesson is fixed only once you both confirm. No timetable is published in advance and no hour is guaranteed.

Prices and getting started

Private Arabic and Moroccan Darija: one 60-minute lesson $20; 8 hours $120; 12 hours $170; 16 hours $200. Prices are in US dollars; no local-currency price is offered. The first trial lesson is free.

Quran and Islamic Studies: single class $12 per hour; Monthly Package 1, 8 hours per month, $80; Monthly Package 2, 12 hours per month, $110. Families get 15% off for each additional sibling. Discover Islam sessions are free.

Book the free Arabic/Darija trial with your name, WhatsApp number and preferred package; the academy arranges the time with you on WhatsApp. You can pay by bank transfer, by card or through a money-transfer service such as Western Union. Quran enquiries are arranged on WhatsApp. Cancellation and refund conditions are on the Terms page.