Getting Started

Install the Apps

How to install iwacu, isoko, and abantu on your Android phone. Two methods — choose one.

Install the Apps

There are two ways to install. Pick the one that works for you. Both are safe. Both give you the same app.

The three apps are independent. Install only the ones you need. Iwacu and abantu share the same identity — if you use both, import your identity from iwacu into abantu so your name and keys are the same across both apps.

F-Droid is an open-source app store. It verifies that every app in its catalogue matches the published source code, and keeps your apps updated automatically.

Android will show warnings during this process — "install unknown apps", "unsafe app blocked", "unknown app provider". These mean the app did not come from Google, which is expected and intentional. F-Droid, Explained covers what each warning means, why F-Droid is the safer choice anyway, and how updates reach you.

Install F-Droid

Download the F-Droid app from f-droid.org. The website has installation instructions. Follow them.

Add the Iwacu repository

Open F-Droid. Go to Settings → Repositories → + and paste this address:

https://fdroid.paramira.org/repo

Or tap this link on your phone — F-Droid will open and ask you to confirm:

Add repository →

Verify the repository fingerprint. When F-Droid asks you to confirm, check that the fingerprint shown matches this one exactly: 57 99 21 DF DE 78 38 4E 0E 35 89 8A AE BF 48 F2 79 7C 94 72 B9 3A A5 54 C9 CA 8C 98 84 41 F8 81 If it does not match, tap Cancel and contact the person who invited you.

Search and install

Search for Iwacu, Isoko, or Abantu in F-Droid and tap Install. F-Droid will keep the apps updated automatically when new versions are published.

Method 2 — Direct APK download

If you cannot use F-Droid, download the APK directly. You will not receive automatic updates — you will need to reinstall manually when a new version is available.

Enable installation from unknown sources

Go to Settings → Apps (or Settings → Security). Find Install unknown apps and allow it for your browser.

Download the APK

Tap the link for the app you want to install:

Install it

Open the downloaded file. Android will ask for permission to install from this source, and may warn about an unknown app or provider — this is expected. Allow it. Tap Install.

Done

Open the app. You are ready.

Do not install from unofficial sources. If someone sends you an APK that did not come from this page or from an invitation link you trust, do not install it. Anyone can put anything inside an APK file.

After installing

When you open iwacu, isoko, or abantu for the first time, the app will:

  • Generate a private identity for you on this device. This takes a few seconds.
  • Ask you nothing. No name. No email. No phone number.

You will see an empty screen. That is correct. The next step is either creating your first tree or processing the invitation that brought you here.

Your first family tree