World Kiswahili Day is celebrated on the 7th of July every year following a declaration by UNESCO member states in this regard.
Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the most widely spoken in sub-Saharan Africa. Kiswahili is also the only African language that is an official language of the African Union.
This first celebration of the World Kiswahili language day will be held under the theme ‘Kiswahili for peace and prosperity’. The mission of the annual celebration is to promote the use of Kiswahili language as a beacon for peace, and enhanced multiculturalism.
The World Kiswahili Language Day will comprise of an official ceremony; symposium on the theme; and cultural evening to portray the rich Kiswahili culture engaging a multitude of stakeholders including Government entities, International Organizations; private sector, diaspora, Non-Profit Organizations and the academia in recognition of the global relevance of Kiswahili as a language of global communication built in the daily life of Africans in a constant enrichment of its multiculturality.