Global Solidarity Discusses the Role of Cultural Centers in Reviving Linguistic Heritage
Within the framework of its Swahili edition of the 'Global Solidarity Talks' series, the Global Solidarity Network organized a discussion titled: 'Theories on the Origins of the Swahili Language from its Inception to the Present Day: And the Role of the 'Bakita' Academy in Reviving Linguistic Heritage'.
The episode witnessed the attendance of a distinguished group of African language researchers, from both Egypt and Tanzania. Among the attendees were Dr. Khamis Ali Matembela, a Swahili language teacher for non-native speakers, certified by the International Swahili institute 'Bakita' and a linguistic expert for several embassies, Ms. Adelfrede, a Swahili language expert in the Languages Department of the UNESCO National Commission in Tanzania, and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman Atia, Assistant Lecturer of Linguistics at the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Azhar University, and supervisor of the Arabic language at the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism.
Dr. Khamis Matembela opened the session by addressing the audience, emphasizing the significance of the Swahili language. The session witnessed a deep and interactive discussion on the origins and theories of the" Swahili language.
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Rahman further elaborated on the topic by providing grammatical examples to support the arguments regarding the language.Both Dr. Muhammad and Dr.khamis agreed that Swahili has borrowed many terms from other languages, especially colonial languages such as English, German, and Hindi. However, the Arabic language has been the most significant source of borrowing, considering that Swahili was initially written using Arabic script, and Arabs were the ones who introduced the fundamentals of writing. Additionally, the role of Islam in this matter was emphasized.
In a related context, Khamis Matembela highlighted the vital role played by the Bakita Language institute in preserving linguistic heritage through its publication of numerous books and dictionaries that serve as references for the Swahili language. He pointed out that some of these publications also delve into the origins of words, determining whether they are borrowed or not, and specifying the language from which a particular term was taken.
In a significant intervention, linguistic expert Ms. Adelfrida interrupted the debate, stating: 'The Swahili language has acquired a significant portion of its vocabulary from Arabic. In fact, Arabic deserves credit for contributing a vast number of terms to Swahili.'
Hassan Ghazaly, the anthropologist and international activist, and founder and president of the Global Solidarity Network, emphasized the need for institutions and individuals to support cultural centers as incubators of heritage. He called for strengthening their efforts to preserve linguistic heritage, enhance the cultural identity of nations, and encourage communities to celebrate their unique heritage.
Ghazaly noted that these efforts are a fundamental part of the Global Solidarity Network's vision to promote intercultural understanding and diversity among peoples worldwide through cooperation and partnerships in cultural projects that respect cultural and linguistic pluralism.
The session was moderated by the translator and researcher, Nourhan Khalid, the coordinator of the Swahili version of the Global Solidarity Talks program and the managing editor of the Swahili articles and opinions portal on the official website of the Nasser Youth Movement.
In conclusion, the guests and attendees praised the effective role played by the Global Solidarity Network worldwide and the impact of the Global Solidarity Talks program in bringing people closer together. They noted that the program serves as a bridge connecting people from various nationalities around the world in one place, allowing them to interact with each other in a shared dialogue. They also commended the efforts of the International Nasser Youth Movement in providing numerous opportunities for students and researchers, and its ability to build a cadre of young people capable of keeping pace with the demands of the job market and being aware of global challenges.
