Language Experts Helping you reach the 1.5 billion Africans
BarrierFri was built on a simple conviction: No more barrier to any idea, vision, or solution, or goods. Our goal is to make free movement od goods and solutions a reality in Africa
Our Story
BarrierFri was founded in Kigali, Rwanda and was inspired by our firsthand experience with the communication gaps that slow down African business, African development, diplomacy, and poverty reduction.
Our founder Paul SAMPO repeatedly witnessed how language and cultural barriers—not unaddressed—caused misunderstandings, eroded trust, and prevented talented people and important ideas from reaching their full potential. These barriers also prevent heathy goods and life-saving solutions from reaching the African population, which is a loss for founders, developers and consumers.
We started as freelance interpretation service providers for regional conferences and grew into a full-spectrum linguistic solution provider company serving clients across East and West Africa. Today, BarrierFri operates from Kigali and Ouagadougou, with a network of qualified linguists, voice artists, and technical specialists available across the continent.
We believe the future of Africa resides in impacting the 1.5 billion Africans with tested solutions, goods and services—and we are here to make that future a reality for everyone.
Our Mission:
Helping startups to reach 1.5 billion Africans, eliminating linguistic and cultural barriers. This is doable through professional, reliable, and culturally intelligent linguistic services—empowering organizations and individuals to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact across every border.
Our Vision:
A Developed Africa where no tested solutions or goods are left unknown. Free movement or goods and solutions through the linguistic blocks of the continent.
Excellence
We hold ourselves accountable to the highest professional standards in every project—from a 5000-word translation project to a 3-week international conference. AIIC compliance is not a marketing claim; it is a daily practice.
Cultural Sensitivity
Language is culture in motion. We go beyond words to understand the tone, context, history, and sensitivities of every audience we serve—across Francophone, Anglophone, Lusophone and indigenous African language communities.
Reliability
In high-stakes environments—diplomatic meetings, international summits, and legal proceedings—there is no room for error or delay. Our clients trust us because we deliver what we promise, and promise what we can deliver.
Innovation
We embrace the technologies reshaping our industry—RSI platforms, CAT tools, cloud-based project management—while maintaining the irreplaceable human touch and expertise that quality professional language offers.
Client Partnership
We don’t just complete projects—we engage you and build relationships. Our most valued clients are those who see us as a long-term language partner, not just a vendor. We invest in understanding your sector, your voice, and your goals.
Meet Paul Sampo
Founder & Lead Interpreter
Paul SAMPO is a Trained conference interpreter, transcreator, localizer and language professional with deep and proven expertise in English-French-Portuguese interpretation in high-level diplomatic, institutional, and corporate events across Africa.
Having worked with international organizations, governmental bodies, and private sector clients across East and West Africa, Paul SAMPO founded BarrierFri to use AIIC-standard language services to help boost the development of a continent where demand is growing rapidly and quality providers remain scarce.
As a multilingual expert fluently speaking French, English, and Portuguese, Paul SAMPO heads BarrierFri's interpretation team and maintains close involvement in every major client engagement.
Certifications & Memberships
BarrierFri operates in compliance with the highest professional standards in the language services industry. Our practices are aligned with AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) guidelines.
Let's Work Together
Whether you need interpretation for a one-day seminar or a full-year language partnership, BarrierFri is ready. Let's talk about your project.