33 Swahili Facts: The Language Of The East African Community

Swahili is among the most fascinating languages in Africa and the rest of the world.

It is Africa's second most spoken language, after Arabic, from which Swahili borrows heavily, with up to 35% of Swahili vocabulary derived from Arabic. On Africa's east coast, the language is spoken as a mother tongue or as a second language.

It has a wide range of words that are widely used around the world. Words like Hakuna Matata, from the animated film 'Lion King', and 'Mr. Bones' have been used all over the world, and when translated into English, simply mean 'no worries.'

Cultural Aspects

Swahili culture is practiced along the coasts of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and the nearby Comoros islands of Zanzibar and Zanzibar. Swahili culture and language are also common in the interiors of Kenya and Tanzania, as well as Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Malawi.

Swahili is a Niger-Congo language, and the culture has a Bantu core with loan words from Arabic, German, Urdu, Hindu, and English, to name a few.

This influence can be traced back to pre-colonial trade and colonial experiences in various countries.

Swahili cuisine draws on Indian and Arabic cultures. Certain dishes are also modified for religious reasons or due to global influences in food preparation.

Samosas, fish, rice, tropical fruits, and spices are all common foods in Swahili households.

Another aspect of the culture is that they use arts and crafts to express themselves more creatively and artistically.

Swahili art, furniture, architecture, and clothing all have multicultural influences visible in their patterns and shapes.

Kanga is also known as the Khanga or Leso. In most East African countries, it is a colorful garment worn by both men and women inside the home.

Kanga is a Swahili cultural artifact that is intended to appeal to specific ideas or preferences.

Music is another form of cultural expression. Taarab is the most common musical genre in Swahili culture.

Its melodies and orchestration are influenced by Arab and Indian music, and it employs western instruments such as the violin and guitar.

Several musical styles that are a derivation of mainstream Western music have evolved.

History Of Swahili

The Swahili language arose from centuries of contact between Arabian traders and the people of Africa's east coast. Going by history, the Swahili language belongs to the Bantu group of people. The language began as a lingua franca used by Bantu-speaking tribal groups along the coast and Arab traders.

Over 3,000 years old, speakers of the proto-Bantu language group started a millennium-long migration series.

Swahili people are descended from Bantu people who lived along Southeast Africa's coast in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Around the eighth century, the Swahili people were involved in the Indian Ocean commerce.

The people were greatly influenced by cultures such as Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Chinese.

During the 10th century, numerous city-states flourished along the Swahili coast and adjacent islands including Malindi, Kilwa, Gedi, Pate, Zanzibar, and Comoros. They were Muslim, cosmopolitan, and politically distinct.

Despite its Persian origins, extensive inter-marriage and conversion of local Bantu inhabitants, as well as later Arab immigration, transformed the Kilwa Sultanate into a very diverse state.

Kilwa's mix of Perso-Arab and Bantu civilizations is credited with establishing the language as an independent East African culture and language.

Kiswahili is the Swahili language's name. The plural of the Arabic word sahil, which means 'coast,' is Swahili. Ki- signifies 'coastal language' in the beginning.

The language was developed as a trade language along the coast and is still most commonly used around the coast.

The first written documents in the Swahili language are thought to have been written in the year 1711 in the Kilwa region. The epic poem's title was 'Utendi wa Tambuka.'

The original copies of the letters, which were written in Arabic script, are kept in the Historical Archive of Goa, India.

Swahili Vs. Other Languages

Swahili is primarily a fusion of local Bantu languages and Arabic. Decades of intensive trade along East Africa's coast resulted in this cultural mingling.

Swahili, in addition to Arabic and Bantu, has English, Persian, Portuguese, German, and French influences as a result of trade contact.

Nairobi residents speak Sheng, a dialect distinct from Swahili spoken along the coast.

Sheng is a Swahili-English hybrid that began as the language of Nairobi's urban youth. Tanzania and Uganda are now rapidly adopting the language.

Shikomori (or Comorian) is an official language of Comoros, and it is also spoken in Mayotte (Shimaore). This language is considered a Swahili dialect.

The language is not widely spoken in Somalia, and it has no official status at the national or regional levels.

It is rarely taught in Somalia's educational system; the main foreign languages are Arabic and English.

Some ethnic minorities are Swahili speakers on the Bajuni islands in the form of Kibajuni on the country's southern tip and in the town of Brava in the form of Chimwiini, both of which contain a significant amount of Somali and Italian loanwords.

The language is mostly spoken by Somali nationals who have lived in Kenya and then returned to Somalia.

Mushunguli (also spelled Zigula, Zigua, or Chizigua) is a highly associated language spoken by some of Somalia's Bantu ethnic minorities, chiefly in the Jubba Valley.

Musunguli is classified as a Northeast Coast Bantu language, like Swahili, and shares some intelligibility.

It is said to be the simplest African language for English speakers to learn.

Unlike many Sub-Saharan African languages, Swahili lacks the distinct pitch carried by a single syllable known as lexical tone, making it even easier to speak.

Conclusion

Swahili's ability to adapt to changing circumstances has contributed to its distinctive place among East and Central African languages. The BBC World Service covers current events in 40 languages, including Swahili.

This means you can read and listen to what's happening in the world in Swahili from one of the most trustworthy sources on the planet. Radio Cairo (Egypt), Voice of America (United States), Radio Deutsche Welle (Germany), Radio Moscow International (Russia), Radio Japan International, Radio China International, Radio Sudan, and Radio South Africa all broadcast in this language.

FAQs

Who invented Swahili?

The language arose from centuries of contact between Arabian traders and the people of Africa's eastern coast.

How many people speak Swahili?

Around 5-15 million people talk in Swahili as their first language. The overall number of speakers is estimated to be 60-200 million.

How did the Swahili language develop or evolve?

When the Bantu language and Arabic made contact, the language emerged. All of this started when Bantu-speaking people migrated from the central African coast to the eastern coast. They settled in seaports, which were the hubs of trading. This allowed the Arabic language to coexist with the Bantu language.

What does the word Swahili mean?

The word Swahili means a 'boundary' or a 'coast.'

How is Swahili an example of cultural interaction?

Swahili is an example of cultural interaction as it is the result of two cultures coming together, that is, Bantu-speaking people and the Arab and the Persian.

Who speaks Swahili in Africa?

People in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Northern Zambia, South Sudan, East African region speak the Swahili language.

How many countries speak Swahili?

The Swahili speakers are spread over 14 countries.

What does zazu mean in Swahili?

Zazu means movement.

What does kiara mean in Swahili?

In Swahili, kiara means princess.

How does one say 'how are you' in Swahili?

The term 'how are you' is pronounced as 'habari yako' in Swahili.