DAR ES SALAAM: IN terms of languages, Africa is like no other continent. There are well over 2,000 different languages spoken across the continent; some spoken by just a few communities and others used by millions of Africans.
With foreign companies now engaging in more business dealings in African countries and the continent is set to see continued growth, some of these African languages may go on to become power languages – languages with the potential to wield real and considerable influence.
Kiswahili is one of these and knowledge of the language is going to become more and more important. Kiswahili is spoken by over 100m people in Africa so it’s pretty hard to ignore a language that’s spoken by so many people.
Its importance as a lingua franca is recognised by foreign media organisations such as the BBC, which broadcasts radio programmes in Swahili among others.
With this in mind, recently ‘Daily New’ Correspondent Nicodemus Ikonko had an interview with the National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) Executive Secretary, Ms Consolata Mushi on the language and down is the excerpt:
Question: Three years ago, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared July 7th as World Kiswahili Language Day. Recently, the United Nations General Council passed a resolution to officially recognise this day. What are your thoughts on this development?
Answer: The official recognition of July 7th as World Kiswahili Language Day by the United Nations General Council is a significant milestone for the Kiswahili language and its speakers.
This recognition not only highlights the importance of Kiswahili as a global language, but also acknowledges its cultural, educational and social significance.
Here are some thoughts on this development: Cultural Recognition: This decision honours the rich cultural heritage of Kiswahili-speaking communities. It brings global attention to the language and its role in promoting African culture and identity.
Educational Opportunities: The recognition may lead to increased interest in learning Kiswahili worldwide. Educational institutions may incorporate Kiswahili into their curricula, providing more resources and opportunities for students to study the language.
Economic Benefits: With increased recognition, there could be more economic opportunities linked to Kiswahili.
Tourism, translation services and other language-related industries may see growth as the language gains more prominence.
Political and Diplomatic Influence: Kiswahili’s official recognition can enhance its role in international diplomacy and politics, especially within African Union activities and other international forums where African languages are essential.
Unity and Integration: Kiswahili has historically played a role in uniting diverse ethnic groups in East Africa. This recognition can further strengthen its role in fostering unity and integration among people in the region and beyond.
In summary, the recognition of July 7th as World Kiswahili Language Day by the United Nations General Council is a positive and empowering development.
It elevates the status of Kiswahili providing numerous cultural, educational, economic and diplomatic benefits while promoting unity and multilingualism globally.
Q: Records indicate that Kiswahili is the third most spoken language in Africa and the seventh largest language globally. Given Tanzania’s historical connection to Kiswahili, how do you plan to maintain and enhance its status?
Ans: To maintain and enhance Kiswahili’s status, it’s essential to promote cultural events and celebrate World Kiswahili Language Day, integrate Kiswahili more extensively into educational curricula and support global learning programmes.
Leveraging technology through apps, online courses and increasing Kiswahili’s digital presence is crucial. Partnering with international institutions and advocating for Kiswahili in international forums will boost its global recognition.
Expanding Kiswahili media and entertainment, investing in research and cultural studies, promoting its use in business and tourism and involving local communities and youth in preservation initiatives are also vital strategies.
Q: The global spread of Kiswahili relies heavily on its teaching at various centres, colleges and universities. What is the current status of Kiswahili education for foreigners in Tanzania and abroad?
ANS: The current status of Kiswahili education for foreigners in Tanzania and abroad is quite promising. In Tanzania, we have 30 registered Swahili language teaching centres, as well as 16 registered Swahili language teaching centres outside the country.
Most known institutions in Tanzania are such as MS TCDC in Arusha, KIU and Dar Language School in Dar es Salaam, Agape Junior in Morogoro to mention few.
Additionally, the National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) provide structured programmes and resources for Kiswahili learning.
Abroad, Kiswahili is taught in many prestigious universities including Yale, Michigan State University and the University of Florida in the United States, as well as other institutions in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Study abroad programmes and international collaborations have further boosted the reach and quality of Kiswahili education making it accessible to a diverse global audience.
Q: Kiswahili has become a significant employment source for the youth in Tanzania, offering opportunities in teaching, translation and interpretation. How can one find and apply for these opportunities?
ANS: First, young people are required to have a degree in Kiswahili or higher, such as a Master’s or Doctorate and then receive specialised training from the National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA).
This training will enable them to work in teaching Kiswahili to foreigners, interpreting, or translation. After completing this training, they receive certificates of recognition.
With these certificates, they can either become self-employed or be employed within and outside the country.
Additionally, due to the growth of ICT, beneficiaries of this training can also work online through platforms like Zoom and other networks.
Q: How many universities teach Kiswahili language in Africa and the rest of the world?
ANS: As of recent data, more than 150 universities worldwide offer Kiswahili language courses. In Africa, numerous institutions in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and South Africa just to mention a few, include Kiswahili in their curriculum.
In Tanzania, institutions like the University of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture and the Open University of Tanzania provide Kiswahili language programmes.
In Kenya, universities such as the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University and Moi University offer Kiswahili courses.
Uganda’s Makerere University and Kyambogo University also include Kiswahili in their course offerings.
In South Africa, the University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town and Rhodes University have Kiswahili programmes.
In the rest of the world, several prestigious universities have incorporated Kiswahili into their language departments.
In the United States universities like Yale, Harvard, Michigan State University and the University of Florida offer Kiswahili courses.
In Europe, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, the University of Warsaw in Poland and Leiden University in the Netherlands teach Kiswahili.
In Asia, institutions such as Osaka University in Japan and Peking University in China include Kiswahili in their language departments.
Additionally, in Australia, the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne provide Kiswahili courses.
The exact number of universities offering Kiswahili may vary as more institutions add or remove language courses, but the growing interest in African languages particularly Kiswahili, has led to an increase in the number of institutions offering these courses.
Q: How is BAKITA collaborating with international organisations to promote Kiswahili?
ANS: The National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) collaborates with various international organisations to promote Kiswahili through multiple initiatives and activities. One key area of collaboration is academic partnerships.
BAKITA works with universities and academic institutions worldwide to incorporate Kiswahili into their curricula. This includes establishing exchange programmes, offering Kiswahili courses and facilitating research projects focused on the language.
BAKITA also organises and participates in international language conferences, workshops and seminars.
These events provide platforms for discussing the development and promotion of Kiswahili, sharing best practices and networking with global language experts.
Additionally, through partnerships with cultural organisations and embassies, BAKITA promotes Kiswahili and Tanzanian culture internationally.
Cultural exchange programmes, language immersion experiences and participation in cultural festivals help raise awareness and appreciation of Kiswahili. In the digital realm, BAKITA collaborates with technology companies and online platforms to develop and promote digital resources for learning Kiswahili.
This includes online courses, mobile applications and virtual classrooms making Kiswahili accessible to a global audience.
Furthermore, by partnering with international publishers and media organisations, BAKITA supports the production and distribution of Kiswahili literature, textbooks and educational materials, increasing the availability of high-quality Kiswahili resources worldwide.
BAKITA also works with international governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support initiatives aimed at promoting Kiswahili.
This includes policy advocacy, funding for language programmes and collaborative projects to enhance the status and usage of Kiswahili globally.
Additionally, BAKITA provides specialised training and certification for Kiswahili teachers, translators and interpreters.
Collaborating with international language institutions ensures that these professionals meet global standards and can work effectively in diverse linguistic environments.
hrough these collaborative efforts, BAKITA plays a crucial role in promoting Kiswahili on the international stage, ensuring its growth and recognition as a significant global language. Q: What role do digital platforms and social media play in the promotion and teaching of Kiswahili?
A: Digital platforms and social media play a significant role in the promotion and teaching of Kiswahili by providing accessible resources, fostering interactive learning environments and connecting a global community of learners and speakers. They enable the dissemination of educational content, support virtual classrooms and create opportunities for cultural exchange and language practice.
Q: What are BAKITA’s future plans to further the development of Kiswahili in the next five years?
ANS: The National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) collaborates with various international organisations to promote Kiswahili through multiple initiatives and activities.
One key area of collaboration is academic partnerships. BAKITA works with universities and academic institutions worldwide to incorporate Kiswahili into their curricula.
This includes establishing exchange programmes, offering Kiswahili courses and facilitating research projects focused on the language.
BAKITA also organises and participates in international language conferences, workshops and seminars.
These events provide platforms for discussing the development and promotion of Kiswahili, sharing best practices and networking with global language experts.
Additionally, through partnerships with cultural organisations and embassies, BAKITA promotes Kiswahili and Tanzanian culture internationally.
Cultural exchange programmes, language immersion experiences and participation in cultural festivals help raise awareness and appreciation of Kiswahili.
In the digital realm, BAKITA collaborates with technology companies and online platforms to develop and promote digital resources for learning Kiswahili.
This includes online courses, mobile applications and virtual classrooms making Kiswahili accessible to a global audience.
Furthermore, by partnering with international publishers and media organisations, BAKITA supports the production and distribution of Kiswahili literature, textbooks and educational materials, increasing the availability of high-quality Kiswahili resources worldwide.
BAKITA also works with international governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support initiatives aimed at promoting Kiswahili.
This includes policy advocacy, funding for language programmes and collaborative projects to enhance the status and usage of Kiswahili globally.
Additionally, BAKITA provides specialised training and certification for Kiswahili teachers, translators and interpreters.
Collaborating with international language institutions ensures that these professionals meet global standards and can work effectively in diverse linguistic environments.
Through these collaborative efforts, BAKITA plays a crucial role in promoting Kiswahili on the international stage, ensuring its growth and recognition as a significant global language.
Q: What role do digital platforms and social media play in the promotion and teaching of Kiswahili?
A: Digital platforms and social media play a significant role in the promotion and teaching of Kiswahili by providing accessible resources, fostering interactive learning environments and connecting a global community of learners and speakers. They enable the dissemination of educational content, support virtual classrooms and create opportunities for cultural exchange and language practice.
Q: What are BAKITA’s future plans to further the development of Kiswahili in the next five years?
A: BAKITA’s ten-year development plan, titled “The National Commercialisation of Kiswahili Language,” outlines several key initiatives aimed at advancing the language from 2022 to 2032.
This program me focuses on expanding digital and online resources to make Kiswahili learning more accessible globally.
It emphasises enhancing language training programmes for both local and international learners and fostering international partnerships and cultural exchanges to promote Kiswahili.
The plan also includes supporting Kiswahili research and academic publications to strengthen the language’s scholarly presence.
Additionally, BAKITA aims to increase the use of Kiswahili in official and professional settings, ensuring the language’s integration and relevance across various sectors.
Through these efforts, the programme seeks to elevate Kiswahili’s status and encourage its widespread use.
