The World Kiswahili Language Day is observed every July 7 to acknowledge the significance of the language, revealing the urgent need for allocating more resources to firm up its teaching and promotion.
While resources should come from all sources, it is the business of the government to promote the language as lingua franca in many regions in Africa.
Kiswahili holds a unique position within the United Nations as the only African language represented in the Directorate of Global Communications, a distinction established back in the 1950s.
Kiswahili serves as a lingua franca for more than 100 million people across Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It has become a symbol of cultural exchange and unity among diverse communities. However, despite its national status, Kiswahili has not got the attention and resources it deserves.
In Kenya, for instance, formal transactions, job applications, and important events are often conducted in English. However, it is encouraging that translation into Kiswahili is gaining more prominence by the day.
Unfortunately, even in schools, Kiswahili is taught using English, and some parents are putting this beautiful language on the back burner while hoisting English in their homes and houses as the language of sophistication and privilege.
This situation calls for the government to invest more resources in promoting Kiswahili, especially considering the significant impact it has had on society.
It is encouraging that individuals from other countries, such as China, come to East Africa to learn Kiswahili and return to teach it to their populations.
This state of affairs should be enough reason to prod the government into unlocking more resources into nurturing Kiswahili.
A number of Kenyans are respected Kiswahili authorities across the globe as teachers, broadcasters, researchers and translators.
It is, therefore the time for our government to recognise and appreciate the immense potential of Kiswahili, both as a language of cultural heritage and as a means of economic growth.
Its influence can be seen in the increasing number of universities offering courses and programmes dedicated to studying the language, literature, and cultural disciplines.
Kiswahili serves as a store of African stories, traditions, and historical journeys, fostering a sense of identity and pride among its speakers.
Kiswahili facilitates trade, tourism, and business interactions within the East African region and beyond. It is expected to assume a more powerful powerful under the AfCFTA, the wider continental trade platform.
Why? Kiswahili provides a platform for African voices to be heard globally.
Through literature, music, poetry, and other forms of artistic expression, the language empowers African artists, writers, and creators, allowing them to curate and share stories, perspectives, and lived experiences.
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