The Croak #8 - Giving Frogs a Voice in Every Language

The Story behind South Africa's First Multilingual Frog Posters

The vision was simple but ambitious: create something beautiful, accurate, and multilingual that could inspire pride and awareness across South Africa. About frogs. Yes, you read correctly, frogs. What began as a commitment to do the design of these posters for Dr Fortunate Mafeta Phaka from the North West University soon grew into something much larger — a story about shared heritage, multi organizational collaboration, and giving frogs the African voices they so desperately need.

From Concept to Creation

The idea was all Dr Fortunate’s. It was sparked by a recognition that frogs, like people, don’t fit neatly into one language. Their calls are universal, but our ability to engage with conservation is often filtered through the words we speak. South Africa is home to eleven official languages, and yet most scientific materials reach only a narrow audience. The time to change that is now.

Working closely with Dr. Fortunate, the African Amphibian Conservation Research Group (within North West University’s Unit for Environmental Science and Management, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and WildVernac, Bionerds (contracted by Anura Africa) began building the poster series that would reflect functional multilingualism, a concept beautifully articulated by Professor Thebe Medupe. Each poster covers the most commonly spoken languages per province, but across the series, all eleven are represented. In doing so, the posters became not just tools for science communication, but symbols of cultural inclusivity. Truly South African.

The Design Journey

Every decision — from the choice of colours and fonts to the placement of QR codes — was intentional. The posters had to be scientifically accurate, accessible to children and adults alike, and visually striking enough to capture attention in classrooms, nature reserves, and community centres.

We layered practical information (species names, calls, habitats) with visual media, ensuring the posters are as engaging as they are educational. This was not just about presenting data, but about storytelling —  it is about showing that frogs are more than background “noise” in nature. They are ecological indicators, conservation ambassadors, and cultural touchstones.

Collaboration Across Borders

Thanks to Dr Phaka, Dr Du Preez who provided the species lists and QR codes, and all the people that contributed photos to make this project a reality - as well as the SAIAB and Community Representatives for each language – these projects are never the work of one organisation alone, it takes a community to reach a country on this level. Together, we were able to build something that bridges science and society, with frogs as the flagship.

These posters are a legacy. They are about honouring language, community, and biodiversity in one breath.

Why These Posters Matter

Frogs are among the most threatened vertebrates on earth. Their declines warn us of collapsing ecosystems, water pollution, and climate instability. By raising awareness in every language, these posters ensure that no community is left out of the conservation conversation. They remind us that conservation is not the job of scientists alone. It is a collective act that requires participation, understanding, and ownership across cultural and linguistic lines.

A Legacy for the Future

Fortunate and Al at the launch of the Posters on the 3rd of September 2025 at the North West University.

These frog posters are more than print materials. They are a celebration of diversity — biological and cultural. They are a commitment to amplifying frog voices in a way that resonates with people everywhere. And most importantly, they are an invitation: to listen, to learn, and to act.

Because when we listen to frogs, we hear a pulse of nature. And when we listen in every language, we create a conversational conservation movement that truly belongs to us all.

All 9 provincial Multilingual Frog Poster sets as free to download HERE

Please share them far and wide, and we hope they bring you so much joy, and pride, as they are bringing us!