Global Solidarity Discusses the Impact of Swahili on Cultures and National Identity in East Africa
The Global Solidarity Network (Nasser Youth Movement - Swahili Language Department) organized the second session of "Global Solidarity Talks" entitled "The Impact of Swahili on Cultures and National Identity: Tanzania and Kenya as Models". The session featured the participation of Professor Kinenee Wamutiso, Professor of Swahili Poetry at the University of Nairobi-Kenya, and Professor Dr. Ayman Al-Aasar, Professor of Swahili Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Azhar University.
Professor Kinenee Wamutiso addressed the role of Swahili and its relationship to Arabic, noting that Swahili poetry originated with Arabic letters. He explained that Swahili, spoken by many tribes, emerged from the commercial and cultural interaction between Arabs and the Swahili people, and contains many terms shared with Arabic, reflecting the strong relations between the two sides. He stressed the importance of preserving Swahili as a language of communication between more than twenty tribes in South and East Africa.
Wamutiso pointed to the role of UNESCO in promoting Swahili as a global official language, and called for its use as a language of communication among Swahili people to preserve their cultural and linguistic heritage. He also thanked Nasser Youth Movement and the Egyptian state for their interest in the Swahili language, praising Egypt's role in supporting Swahili language students through four Egyptian universities, reflecting Egypt's commitment to strengthening African languages and consolidating cultural and educational relations with the African continent.
During the session, Professor Ayman Al-Aasar addressed several axes, emphasizing the common identity of Tanzania and Kenya thanks to Kiswahili as a communication language. Al-Asr explained that Swahili was affected by the Arabic language by up to 30% as a result of cultural and commercial exchanges, noting that culture consists of traditions and customs and that identity is an integral part of it. He added that the origins of culture in the region belong to Bantu and Islam, pointing to the current influence of English on Swahili. He also explained that there are differences in dialects between Tanzania and Kenya, but that these differences do not hinder mutual understanding between the two countries' peoples, thus promoting cultural and linguistic unity.
Al-Asar also expressed his gratitude to the Nasser Youth Movement - Global Solidarity Network for their interest in the Swahili language and praised the role of researcher Hassan Ghazalyas the founder of all these initiatives, in promoting and encouraging Swahili language learners and speakers. He commended the movement for providing training opportunities, capacity building, and support for Swahili language learners, contributing to enhancing Egypt's image abroad and highlighting its interest in the African sphere.
The session was moderated by translator Yasmin Kamal, researcher of African languages and coordinator of the East African region of the Nasser International Youth Movement.
In a related context, Hassan Ghazaly, founder and president of the Global Solidarity Network, affirmed the network's keenness to empower and build the capacities of young cadres from learners of different languages and support their understanding of South-South issues, and to create a free platform for expressing their opinions, aspirations, and exchanging experiences between different generations, noting that the Global Solidarity Talks program is an extension of the Global Citizen Talks program, which was launched by the network in 2020, as part of the network's projects, which number up to 15 projects in various fields, including media, leadership, youth, and culture.
In a related context, Hassan Ghazaly, founder and chairman of the Global Solidarity Network, affirmed the network's keenness to empower and build the capacities of young cadres from learners of different languages and support their understanding of South-South issues, and to create a free platform for expressing their opinions, aspirations, and exchanging experiences between different generations, noting that the Global Solidarity Talks program is an extension of the Global Citizen Talks program, which was launched by the network in 2020, as part of the network's projects, which number up to 15 projects in various fields, including media, leadership, youth, and culture.
