Swahili Survival Kit: Learn the basics of Swahili with our free print out of popular phrases and words: download

Kiswahili, A Historical Overview

Kiswahili, the Coastal Language:

Kiswahili, relatively widespread by the time Germans sought to colonize Tanganyika, developed alongside trade relations as Arabs and Persians pursued commercial ties with the East African coast.   German colonial powers did not directly attempt to assimilate the local population into western values and as a result, Kiswahili was utilized without the ideological qualms which are characteristic of the British colonial years.

Kiswahili, the Unifying language:

In 1967, Julius Nyerere, the first President of independent Tanzania, instated Kiswahili as part of his socialist agenda. Seeking to unify the young nation through an emphasis on their African heritage and making primary education more relevant to the needs of the masses, Kiswahili became the official language to be used in primary school.

Kiswahili, A National Language:

Today, Kiswahili and English, both national languages in Tanzania, exist precariously across various domains of Tanzanian life. Learn more about English and Kiswahili within the educational system by visiting the NTC English Club page.