DAR ES SALAAM, July 8 — Tanzanian Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba on Tuesday called for new strategies to promote Kiswahili globally, noting that the language’s growing international recognition requires fresh approaches to expand its influence worldwide.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office communications unit, Nchemba made the remarks while addressing participants at the fifth World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the world, with over 200 million speakers, according to the UN. Nchemba said that the Tanzanian government would continue to strengthen the use of Kiswahili domestically and internationally through education, research, publishing, translation, digital technology and language diplomacy. UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said the organization had supported the preparation of a French-Kiswahili dictionary, which he said would create more opportunities for teachers and learners of both languages. In November 2021, UNESCO’s General Conference adopted a resolution recognizing the global role of Kiswahili and establishing World Kiswahili Language Day, celebrated annually on July 7, which made Kiswahili the first African language to receive its own UN-recognized international day.
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