Kiswahili use touted to boost EAC intergration
KIGALI, Rwanda: TANZANIA has urged East African Community (EAC) partner states to further promote use of Kiswahili and take advantage of its growing global interest for social and economic benefits.
Speaking on Monday in Kigali, Rwanda, during the 4th EAC World Kiswahili Language Day celebration, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Dr Habib Kambanga underscored the growing global interest in Kiswahili, following UNESCO’s adoption of July 7 as the official World Kiswahili Language Day.
“There is increasing interest from nations within and beyond Africa to learn Kiswahili due to its beauty and significance. Kiswahili is a scarce commodity and as EAC member states, we must lead in spreading and promoting its use so that other countries become eager to learn from us,” Dr Kambanga said.
He encouraged all people within the regional bloc to take pride in using Kiswahili in their daily communication and stressed its vital role in strengthening EAC’s solidarity, integration and socio-economic and political development.
He added that the surge of interest from other countries is also driven by the decisive action by the EAC, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) to adopt Kiswahili as an official language.
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Tanzania, through the National Kiswahili Council and the Zanzibar Kiswahili Council, has been offering specialised training for Kiswahili teachers to meet the growing global demand.
According to the National Kiswahili Council, over 170 Tanzanians are currently self-employed as Kiswahili teachers in various countries worldwide, reflecting the increasing popularity of Africa’s most widely spoken language.
These trainings are conducted at the National Kiswahili Council’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam, which is also equipped with translation technology. The Council has published several dictionaries, including Kiswahili-English, Kiswahili-French and Kiswahili-Kiswahili, to enrich teachers’ vocabulary.
“In Tanzania, Kiswahili is not only a national language but a core part of our identity that unites over 60 million Tanzanians from more than 120 tribes,” Dr Kambanga said.
He added, “Kiswahili makes us one people—one tribe, the Kiswahili tribe.”
Dr Kambanga also praised the government of Rwanda for hosting the event and for the hospitality extended to the Tanzanian delegation.
East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) representative Dr Asiimwe Caroline said the 4th EAC Kiswahili Language Day aimed to boost Kiswahili’s use within the region, across Africa and globally. She highlighted the language’s role in fostering socio-economic integration and prosperity.
The event in Kigali also set the foundation for policy formulation to promote Kiswahili across all EAC member states, aiming for inclusivity, sustainable development and peace.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Mr Andrea Malueth reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to promoting Kiswahili as a key tool for regional integration, urging all member states to prioritise Kiswahili teaching and learning at all levels.
“We encourage all partner states to prioritise Kiswahili education,” Mr Malueth said.
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Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Minister for Education, Ms Claudette Irere, noted that this year’s theme, “Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development,” aligns closely with Rwanda’s education vision and broader development goals.
She said Kiswahili plays a crucial role in facilitating communication among over 250 million people worldwide and serves as a strategic vehicle for peace and sustainable development in East Africa and beyond.
Ms Irere added that Kiswahili has been one of Rwanda’s official languages since 2017 and that the country will continue promoting its use in education, business, diplomacy and cultural development.
The World Kiswahili Language Day within the EAC is celebrated annually, rotating among partner states. The first celebration was held in Zanzibar from July 6 to 7, 2022.
