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UNESCO joins hands with Tanzania to celebrate 2024 World Kiswahili Language Day
On 7th July 2024, Tanzania celebrated World Kiswahili Language Day with a vibrant event that highlighted the rich cultural heritage and linguistic pride of the nation. The celebration featured the recitation of poems in Kiswahili, showcasing the beauty and expressive power of the language. The event saw active participation from various development partners, government officials, students, and other stakeholders, reflecting the collective commitment to promoting and preserving Kiswahili.
The Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hon. Dr. Damas Daniel Ndumbaro, was the Guest of Honor during the celebrations. He emphasized the importance of Kiswahili in uniting the nation and enhancing cultural identity. In his speech, the Minister underscored the government's dedication to supporting initiatives that elevate Kiswahili locally and internationally.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, a special video message from the President of the United Republic of Tanzania was played, in which the President commended the efforts to celebrate and promote Kiswahili. The President's message reinforced the language's role in fostering national unity and cultural pride, urging all Tanzanians to continue supporting its growth and development. This message resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring a renewed commitment to the language.
Kiswahili is the language of liberation, it is the language of unity, it is the language of peace, and it is the language of business. I urge my fellow leaders around the world to use Kiswahili to promote unity, build and protect peace and solidarity, teach our children and youth education and values, and promote business between our countries. Kiswahili is an opportunity to achieve the development goals of our country, Africa, and the world in general
The event also featured a speech from the UNESCO Country Representative for Tanzania, who highlighted the global importance of Kiswahili as a major African language. The UNESCO Country Representative applauded Tanzania's leadership in promoting Kiswahili and emphasized UNESCO's support for initiatives aimed at preserving linguistic diversity. His speech, along with the other presentations and performances, underscored the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in celebrating and advancing Kiswahili, marking the day as a resounding success in the ongoing journey to honor and preserve this treasured language.
Kiswahili plays a pivotal role in fostering socio-economic growth, enhancing cultural exchange, and promoting education and innovation in Tanzania and across the globe. Kiswahili is recognized by regional and international organizations. It is an official language within the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and the East African Community. This recognition underscores its essential role in achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Kiswahili is one of the most widely used languages of the African family, and the most widely spoken in sub-Saharan Africa. It is among the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with more than 230 million speakers. The General Conference of UNESCO, at its 41st session in 2021, proclaimed 07 July as World Kiswahili Language Day, in recognition of the global relevance of Kiswahili as a language of global communication built in the daily life of Africans in a constant enrichment of its multiculturality.
On 1st July 2024, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a historic resolution tabled by Kenya and Tanzania on behalf of the African Group proclaiming 7th July as the World Kiswahili Language Day.
