New WhatsApp Translation: A Relief for Cameroon’s Tongue-Tied Officials

From today, users will be able to translate messages directly in the app—no need to copy-paste into Google Translate or switch apps. A long press on a message now brings up the “Translate” option, instantly displaying the text in the chosen language.

On Android, the feature goes even further: entire chats can be auto-translated in real time, so new messages immediately appear in the user’s language.

WhatsApp insists the translations are generated locally on each device, meaning privacy is preserved. Messages, it says, will not pass through external servers.

Cameroon’s Twist: Satire Meets Politics

In Cameroon, the update is already sparking satirical commentary. Citizens are quick to suggest that the feature could be a lifesaver for certain public figures who struggle with language clarity despite holding high office.

At the top of that list: Minister Paul Atanga Nji, known internationally for his memorable phrase “boys(es) in the bushes” when referring to separatists, and his equally famous “mamamai” exclamations.

Observers quip that if WhatsApp’s tool can translate between English and French seamlessly, it might also help smooth over the minister’s linguistic acrobatics—a long-running subject of memes and jokes in the country.

Hope for Dual-Language Cameroon

Beyond the jokes, the update is timely for a nation where citizens often juggle English, French, and multiple local languages in daily conversation. For civil servants and politicians who still fumble across bilingual settings, this update could become more than a convenience—it could be a lifeline.

As one satirical blogger put it:

“If this update can help Atanga Nji speak without inventing new grammar, then truly—technology is the future.”