With over 200 million speakers, Kiswahili plays a key role in communication, integration, and identity across East, Central, and Southern Africa. It is also an official language of the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and the East African Community.

Recognised by United Nations (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as the first African language to have its own international day, Kiswahili continues to shape education, diplomacy, media, and cultural exchange. It was instrumental in liberation struggles, including those led by Tanzania’s founding president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and remains a symbol of unity and pride for millions.

The UN recently reinforced Kiswahili’s global relevance through Resolution A/RES/78/312 document, which highlights its role in promoting peace, solidarity, and pan-Africanism.

Kiswahili has deep historical roots along the East African coast, emerging through centuries of interaction between Bantu-speaking communities and Arab and Asian traders. While primarily a Bantu language, it has been significantly influenced by Arabic, with the name "Swahili" itself derived from the Arabic word sawāḥilī, meaning "of the coast."

--ChannelAfrica/United Nations--