KUALA LUMPUR— The World Kiswahili Language Day was commemorated for the first time on Thursday under the theme “Kiswahili for peace and prosperity.”

The Tanzanian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said the theme was “in cognisance with the role of the language in promoting an environment for tolerance, dialogue, and shared perspective for development as part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) mandate.”

It noted that the mission of the annual celebration was to promote the use of Kiswahili language as a beacon for peace and enhanced multiculturalism.

It also emphasised that besides being a tool for everyday communication, Kiswahili language is also a beacon for shared cultural identities and historical values as well as being one of the 10 most widely spoken languages in Sub-Saharan African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

“It is, therefore, an indispensable tool in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and in facilitating regional integration,” the high commission said in a statement on its website.

The high commission pointed out that the Kiswahili language now served as the working language of the EAC, SADC, and African Union (AU) which complimented the vision of inspiring the world with the rich values of the language.

Within the east African Region, Kiswahili has been the instrument of dialogue among civilisations, acting as a bridge of shared relations among societies.

“Over time, Kiswahili language has invested in the historical ties of societies and countries reflecting on the quest for independence, intercultural, connections, and good neighbourliness,” the statement read.

The 41st Session of UNESCO General Conference on Nov 23, 2021, proclaimed July 7 annually as the World Kiswahili Language Day.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK