Arabic, Darija and Quran lessons online for English-speaking West Africa

Not one market: what differs by country

Nigeria: a deep tradition of Islamiyya and university Arabic in the north and in cities such as Ibadan, while many learners in Port Harcourt and Enugu start from zero. Ghana: Zongo communities in Accra and Kumasi and a largely Muslim north around Tamale, where many children already read Arabic.

Sierra Leone: a majority-Muslim country where Quranic school is common and Krio is the everyday language. Liberia: long-established Muslim minority communities and many complete beginners; US dollars are already widely used. The Gambia: a strong madrasa tradition and students who go on to study in Morocco. Cameroon: officially bilingual, so learners choose English or French explanations.

Choosing MSA, Moroccan Darija or Quran

Choose MSA if you want to read and write Arabic, study it at school or university, use it at work, or understand formal and Islamic texts. Choose Moroccan Darija only if you need spoken Arabic for Moroccans or for life in Morocco. Choose a Quran path for reading, Tajweed, memorization with revision or meanings.

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) Arabic, Hassaniya or any dialect other than Moroccan Darija.

How online lessons from Morocco work

Lisanova Academy is an online academy run from Morocco. It has no classroom, branch, agent or locally based tutor in Africa outside Morocco: every lesson is a live one-to-one video lesson with a Moroccan teacher.

You book a free trial, the academy agrees a time with you on WhatsApp, and the teacher runs a short informal level check. After that you choose single lessons or a package and keep a regular weekly time with the same teacher where possible.

Confirmed explanation languages

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. Lessons are not explained in Hausa, Yoruba, Krio, Twi, Wolof, Fulfulde or other West African languages. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we match you with a suitable teacher.

Scheduling across West African time zones

Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia are on UTC+0, usually one hour behind Morocco. Nigeria and Cameroon are on UTC+1, the same clock time as Morocco for most of the year. During Ramadan Morocco moves to UTC+0.

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.

French-speaking West Africa

Learners in Senegal, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire can read dedicated pages in French, and Mauritania has its own English page. The same teachers and prices apply.

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.