International Swahili Language Day
Today marks the anniversary of the celebration of the International Swahili language Day, which is one of the languages spoken in thirteen countries in East and Central Africa, namely the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, also in the eastern half of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in the Comoros Islands alongside the Comoros dialect. The prevalence of Swahili language was not limited to only East African countries, but also reached to The Great Lakes states such as the Congo, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia and Burundi. Swahili is one of the five official languages of the African Union along with English, French, Portuguese and Arabic.
In Africa, Swahili is the only African language that is considered an official language in the African Union. Moreover, Swahili is ranked among the ten most widely spoken languages worldwide, in addition to being a language and a field of study in many universities in Europe, America, Canada, Asia and Africa.
In 2021, the 41st session of UNESCO Member States declared 7 July every year as International Swahili Language Day. The world is welcoming this day with enthusiasm and excitement as Swahili language has already carved a niche for itself in many international media including BBC,VoA,RFI, Radio China, Egyptian radio stations directed to East Africa, Radio Tehran, and Nasser Youth Movement website.
Swahili is one of the official languages not only in the African Union but also in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) and its states led by Kenya and most recently Uganda. Therefore, it is an indispensable language in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and facilitating regional integration, particularly in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
It should be noted that in the 1950s, the United Nations established Swahili language unit at United Nations Radio in New York and nowadays Swahili is the only African language in the United Nations Directorate of Global Communications.
Kenyan universities and Swahili associations celebrate in this day in different ways by holding meetings ,Virtual and physical processions separately. Tanzania will celebrate the International Swahili language Day at the University of Dar EL_ Salaam through the Institute of Swahili Studies (TATAKI), also the Swahili Council in Zanzibar (BAKIZA) will celebrate this day.
