Kiswahili is used throughout the continent of Africa. It is a national and an official language of many African countries and the African Union (AU). Kiswahili is used in the media, schools, and to transact business in many African countries. Knowledge of Kiswahili language is essential for those intending to pursue careers in journalism, international organizations, the NGO community and diplomatic services. Kiswahili is increasingly used by the global entertainment industry.
- Visit the U of T Kiswahili website for more information.
- Consult the A&S calendar for specific course offerings.
Students have opportunities to study Kiswahili in Eastern and Central Africa where the University of Toronto has student exchange programs.
- See also:
- What is Kiswahili?
Kiswahili is classified as a Bantu language. The Bantu language is one of the four main linguistic families in Africa. The other linguistic families are the Nilo-Sarahan, Khoisan and Afro-Asiatic. - Where is Kiswahili spoken?
It is spoken in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, South Africa, Oman, Comoro Islands and Djibouti. - Is Kiswahili difficult to learn?
There is nothing like an easy language but there are different ways of learning the language. Kiswahili can be learned through experiential activities such as debates (mijadala), songs (nyimbo), drumming etc. Below is photo of drumming lesson for Kiswahili students in Wilson Hall, New College in 2007-2008. - How many dialects are there in Kiswahili?
There are more than 15 dialects in Swahili. The Kiunguja dialect of Zanzibar has been adopted as Standard Kiswahili since 1935 and is used in the media, schools and business transactions. - What Alphabet does Kiswahili use?
Kiswahili uses the Roman alphabet and has 24 letters. The letters X and Q do not exist in Kiswahili and the letter C is never used alone. It is always followed by the letter H. - Which international media houses broadcast their programs in Kiswahili?
The BBC World Service, Voice of America, Deutschewelle, Radio South Africa, Radio Cairo, Radio Japan, Radio Beijing International, All India Radio and Radio Moscow. - Is it difficult to get Kiswahili materials?
Google and Microsoft have launched Kiswahili language Internet search engines. There are many online Kiswahili resources including books and dictionaries. Kiswahili materials are widely available in many schools (elementary and secondary) in Africa and libraries of universities and colleges in Africa, Europe, North America and Asia. Many students in American universities are actively studying Kiswahili through the Kamusi Project managed by Yale University.
- What is Kiswahili?
