The Experts Meeting on the implementation of Kiswahili as a Working Language of the African Union, convened by the African Academy of Languages ACALAN) in Nairobi, has concluded with key decisions and a clear programme of action for the Kiswahili Commission, which was established in 2011.
Providing a summary of deliberations, Prof. Aldin Mutembei, the newly selected coordinator of the commission, announced that participants successfully laid the foundation for the Kiswahili Commission to implement the Assembly Decision AU/Dec796 (XXXIV) on Kiswahili as a Working Language of the African Union and Language of Wider Communication in Africa.
Coordinator, Kiswahili Commission
A major outcome of the meeting is the adoption of the Nairobi Call to Action as a framework of commitments that urges Kiswahili stakeholders to decisively recognise and promote Kiswahili as a working language of the African Union and a language of wider communication in Africa.
Prof. Mutembei, from Tanzania, was selected as the Coordinator of the Kiswahili Commission. The Commission has organized itself with its members taking leads in education, research and development, communications, and finance, supported by senior advisors from across the region.
The meeting addressed continental advocacy and deliberated on the need to have a Kiswahili Champion of the African Union. A formal nomination process will be undertaken through AU channels, with clear terms of reference to guide the role.
The Kiswahili Commission has also developed five projects that are aligned with AU priorities and the implementation cycles of Agenda 2063. These projects are designed to demonstrate the practical value of Kiswahili in Africa’s development.
The first project focuses on accelerating Pan-Africanism through Nyerere Kiswahili Hubs across the continent. It aims to empower youth by linking language, creative arts, and digital innovation. The second project promotes the use of Kiswahili in climate change response, including the development of terminology, corpora, and public engagement tools to ensure community participation.
The third initiative targets tourism and hospitality, advocating for the use of Kiswahili to enhance authentic cultural experiences and reduce overreliance on foreign languages. The fourth project centres on women’s leadership, documenting and amplifying the voices of African women leaders using Kiswahili to inspire future generations.
The fifth project explores the creative industries, including film, theatre, and digital media, promoting Kiswahili as a language of production, storytelling, and cultural expression across Africa.
To operationalise these initiatives, the Kiswahlili Commission will establish a communication platform to refine project details and coordinate implementation. Each project will be assigned a lead, with members contributing to development and execution.
“We have given ourselves a short timeline,” Prof. Mutembei explained. “Within weeks, all projects will be refined, and we will begin mobilising resources.”
Fundraising will be led by the Kiswahili Commission itself, engaging partners, philanthropists, and stakeholders across the continent, while maintaining alignment with African Union frameworks.
The Nairobi meeting marks a significant step in advancing Kiswahili as a language of wider communication, reinforcing its role in promoting cultural identity, social integration, and sustainable development across Africa.