SWAHILI LANGUAGE
Facts, Attractions, and Its Influence
Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is a Bantu language spoken by over 100 million people basically in East Africa. Swahili is an official language in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others. Swahili is one of the official languages of the African Union and the East African Community. It is also taught in schools across East Africa and Africa and is increasingly used as a lingua franca in the continent. Swahili has a rich cultural heritage associated with a diverse range of literature, music, dances, and oral traditions. It has also been used as an identity before and during the colonial period.
Its Origin:
Swahili belongs to the Bantu language family and is said to have been formed after receiving grammar, vocabulary, and forms from different Bantu languages in East Africa with slight influence from Arabic culture
Swahili has been heavily
influenced by Arabic culture due to historical interactions between the Swahili
coast and Arab traders. Furthermore, has borrowed vocabulary from English,
Portuguese, German, and Hindi, reflecting the diverse cultures in East Africa.
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| Map showing Swahili Intensity in East Africa |
There are regional variations in Swahili, with dialects differing in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Such that, the Swahili spoken in Kenya is different from Other, the same as South and Central dialects. The standard form of Swahili, based on the variety spoken in Zanzibar, is used as the basis for education and official communication.
Swahili has a rich cultural heritage and is associated with a diverse range of literature, music, and oral traditions. It has also been used as a language of resistance and identity, particularly during the colonial period.
Why should Africa Consider Swahili as their official language?
👉The language is the most spoken African language with more than 100 million speakers and is spoken in more than 6 countries (Tanzania, Kenya, DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and other more SADC countries)
👉Grammatical advantages: Swahili has similar forms, grammar, and characteristics as many African Bantu languages. So, it is easy for African Bantu speakers to learn and adopt the language easily.
👉Economic and Diplomatic Advantages: Most Swahili-speaking countries are peaceful and diplomatic attractive. This means that most African countries easily interact in the Swahili zone.
👉Cultural and Historical Significance: Swahili has been used as a symbol of unity among African countries since independence. Most Southern African Countries attained their independence late and their struggle was based mostly in East Africa specifically Tanzania.
Regarding the facts on the table; Is it the right time for the whole African continent to consider recommending the Kiswahili language as the medium of Communication and a uniting factor?. Is it the right time for all Countries in Africa to start teaching the Kiswahili language in their schools?
✍Prudence Kakwezi
READ ALSO: BAIKOKO (Swahili Dance)
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