NAIROBI, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will leverage proficiency in Swahili among citizens to boost cross-border trade and cultural diplomacy, a senior official said Tuesday during a follow-up event on World Kiswahili Language Day which is marked annually on July 7.
Ann Wanjohi, the director of cultural diplomacy in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said that by becoming a Swahili center of excellence, the country will be well placed to trade more with neighbors and spearhead regional peace-building and integration efforts.
"The future is Swahili and as a country, we intend to promote the language which is spoken by more than 200 million people in our quest for cultural and trade diplomacy," Wanjohi remarked.
Convened by the United Nations Office in Nairobi, the posthumous World Kiswahili Language Day brought together diplomats, scholars, and students who underscored its growing stature in Africa and beyond.
The 41st session of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, France in 2021 proclaimed July 7 of each year as World Kiswahili Language Day, making it the first African language to be recognized by the UN.
Wanjohi said Swahili is a national language in Kenya, spoken by the country's diverse ethnic groups and central to sustaining cultural heritage, pride, and identity.
She added that the government has enacted policies aimed at promoting Swahili as the language of business, education, entertainment, diplomatic relations, and innovations.
Wanjohi said that Swahili, which borrows heavily from Arabic and Bantu dialects of east, central, and southern Africa, has been synonymous with Kenya's aspirations for greatness and vitality.
She said the government will also revamp the Swahili curriculum in schools and colleges, to boost its proficiency among the youth and convert them into cultural ambassadors.
Zainab Bangura, the director-general of United Nations Offices in Nairobi, said that the Swahili language has emerged as a force for promoting multilateralism, tolerance, and dialogue among civilizations.
Bangura said that Kenya and other Swahili-speaking African nations should leverage it to preserve and transmit shared history and cultural heritage. ■
