The newly elected commissioners of the African Union (AU) Kiswahili Commission have pledged to strengthen efforts to spread Kiswahili beyond formal classroom settings.
Speaking to Kazi-njema Radio after the unveiling of the nine-member commission, Dr Aidah Mutenyo, a commissioner and lecturer at Kabale University in Uganda, said the commission is focusing on reaching ordinary people, especially those engaged in business activities such as market vendors, because Kiswahili has historically been a language of trade and interaction.
She noted that while formal learning institutions remain important, informal community-based approaches are equally vital in expanding the language.
“The formal arrangements can continue, but informal arrangements are also very important because Kiswahili itself originated through trade and social interaction,” Dr Mutenyo said.
She expressed optimism that the ongoing initiatives will accelerate the spread of Kiswahili across Africa.
“There will come a day when Africans will sit around one table and understand each other through speaking Kiswahili,” she added.
She added that even the 2019 Dar es Salaam Declaration focused on the broad promotion of Kiswahili and did not specifically address its examination.
Prof Aldin Mutembei, Head of Kiswahili Studies Department at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, urged African youths to embrace Kiswahili, saying the language is opening up opportunities beyond national borders.
“It is not just a matter of Uganda or East Africa. It is about positioning ourselves to access opportunities such as teaching Kiswahili across the globe,” he said.
Prof Mutembei cited Ghana’s founding leader, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as one of the early visionaries who promoted Kiswahili in West Africa after recognising its potential as a unifying African language.
He added that Kiswahili is now officially recognised by both the African Union and the United Nations, reflecting its growing international significance.
Prof Mutembei also serves as the Coordinator of the AU Kiswahili Commission under the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN).
Dr Ronex Kisembo Tendo, the Secretary General of the AU Kiswahili Commission, said the commission’s main mandate is to promote Kiswahili from the grassroots to the global stage.
He said during their four-year term, the commissioners will employ different strategies to engage African leaders, beginning with heads of state from the East African Community (EAC), whom he described as key stakeholders in advancing the language.
The launch was officiated by the Kenyan High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Ababu Namwamba, who challenged African elites who prefer English to change their perception towards Kiswahili.
He said Kiswahili is an important African language that can help unlock opportunities across the continent.
The event also marked the launch of the third edition of the “Twende Zetu Butiama” pilgrimage safari, scheduled to take place in October this year.
Mr Moses Odeke, Programmes Officer at Africa Mashariki Fest, the organisers of the pilgrimage safari, said this year’s pilgrimage will cover Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, with Tanzania being the main destination.
The pilgrimage aims to honour the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founding father of Tanzania and one of the key architects of the East African Community.
Mwitongo village in Butiama district, Mara region in Tanzania, is the birthplace of the late Tanzanian President Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.