Tanzania to exports Swahili language to other countries

By Godfrey Olukya 7-11-2012

Tanzania is to soon start teaching Swahili language in other parts of Africa and the world at large.

Swahili is the national language of Tanzania. It is also much spoken in Kenya, Zanzibar and other parts of Africa.

It originated from mixing Arabic and local language at the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania as Arabic traders and local people interacted two centuries ago.

According to Tanzania’s minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Amos Makalla, the government will open up Swahili teaching offices in other countries especially where they have embassies.

He said they are going to start with one in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. That city is the seat of African union commission and starting
to teach Swahili there could be a strategy targeting other African countries whose officials often visit the city

Makalla said that teaching Swahili in other countries will help strengthen the language, which for over 50 years, has been one of the
unifying factors of Tanzanians. The language is currently being promoted to become the East African Community official language.

Pan African official, Charles Musigwa said that teaching Swahili in as many countries as possible especially in Africa will go a long way in uniting the continent.

Musigwa said, ‘Swahili is a rich language which can be used to unify Africa. All countries in Africa should encourage it’s people to learn
Swahili.’

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