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At least six universities in China, including Beijing Foreign Studies University, have established Swahili Language faculties to teach Chinese and international students.
The Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, Mr. Che Zhaoguang, mentioned that the universities have begun enrolling students for Kiswahili courses.
Speaking at the celebration of International Chinese Language, Mr. Zhaoguang highlighted that numerous graduates have been deployed to various sectors such as governments, organizations, institutes, and companies. They play pivotal roles in fostering the friendship between China and Tanzania.
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“When Tanzanians walk around in Beijing or any part of China, they find some Chinese who speak, it is always a wonderful feeling to meet someone who speaks your language in a foreign land,” he noted.
According to him ten years ago the Confucius Academy which is an Institute for learning Chinese language was set up at the University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) purposely to enable Tanzanians to learn Chinese language and thus enable smooth interaction.
“Today we are happy as many graduates are employed as Chinese teachers in some schools and others in different Chinese companies,” Mr Zhaoguang stressed.
The counselor expressed confidence that future cooperation between the two countries in education, culture, tourism, economy, and other areas will be significantly enhanced.
The UDSM Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic) Prof Boniventure Rutinwa said that Tanzanians have a preference for employment in Chinese companies therefore those who know the Chinese language have priority to be employed. Prof Rutinwa said the celebration of multilingualism and cultural diversity promotes equal use of the seven official languages in the United Nations Kiswahili inclusive.
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One of the first-year Chinese students at UDSM, Glory Kahulo said that learning Chinese will help her to know their culture and how they live.
“I have a passion to know the Chinese language, thus it will be easy to get employment with them and also intermingle internationally since it is among the international languages.
In recent years, the Swahili language has been steadily gaining prominence on the global stage, emerging as a language of increasing importance for various reasons. Swahili, a Bantu language with Arabic influences, is spoken by millions of people across East Africa and beyond, making it one of the most widely spoken languages on the African continent.
One key factor contributing to the growing importance of Swahili is its status as a language of trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange in East Africa. With its roots in the historical interactions between African communities and Arab traders along the Swahili Coast, Swahili has long served as a lingua franca for communication and commerce in the region.
Moreover, Swahili’s role as a language of instruction in schools and universities in East Africa has further solidified its position as a vital medium for education and knowledge dissemination. As more institutions recognize the value of teaching and learning Swahili, the language’s reach and influence continue to expand.
In addition, the increasing globalization and interconnectedness of the world have propelled Swahili onto the international stage. With its growing presence in digital media, literature, music, and film, Swahili has transcended geographical boundaries to reach a global audience, captivating learners and enthusiasts worldwide.
The recognition of Swahili as one of the official languages of the African Union and its inclusion as a working language of various international organizations have underscored its significance as a language of diplomacy and intercultural dialogue.
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