Page 73 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

MY AFRIKA

sion – that is what Swahili will do
for Africans, make them feel like a
big family; the political boundaries
will not mean anything. Who even
put the boundaries there in the first
place?

Economic growth: Have you ever
heard of the tower of Babel? Funny
story it is. The builders started well;
they all spoke the same language.
Three Reasons why Swahili Then the Supreme Being confused
them, and they all began to speak
is important to Africa -Naomi Kamau different languages because what
they were doing was against his will.
rowing up in East I'm happy to report that positive Their ambitious venture to erect the
Africa, specifically developments have taken place with highest building ever came to a dead
in Kenya, Swahili, or regard to African languages. Now- end. They could not understand
GKiswahili as we call it, adays, these are the kinds of head- each other. A common language
was introduced to most of us con- lines you see, "16 southern African is crucial to a people's economic
currently with a mother tongue. As countries in the Southern African growth, and that is what Kiswahili
much as most of us are not native Development Community (SADC) accomplishes for Africa.
Swahili speakers, we have practically have agreed to adopt Kiswahili as
spoken the language since birth. As a formal language in the region." Enhanced intellectual capacity:
it happens, some take this beautiful Countries such as South Africa, Bo- Psychologists say that people who
language for granted, thinking that tswana and Rwanda are introducing speak more than one language have
it makes you inferior. They have a Swahili to their school curricula. enhanced concentration, improved
mistaken view that the more fluent memory, problem-solving and
you are in English (or whichever Swahili is our language of the heart, critical-thinking skills, multi-tasking
post-colonial language one speaks), the one we dream in and form ability, and better listening skills.
the more educated and sophisticated ideas in before we transpose them The average African speaks at least
you look. A moment of silence for to other languages. The African three languages: a native language, a
them. Do not be sad though, this is Union understood this and adopted regional lingua franca and a colonial
a happy article. Good news on the Kiswahili as a continental language. language. Now add Swahili to those
way. Imagine the very gifted African who do not have it already. Do you
athletes responding to international see how Swahili makes Africa a
Schools all over Africa went to the reporters in Kiswahili when being cognitive powerhouse?
extent of punishing errant students, interviewed. Visualize Africa having
'errant' because they spoke in Swa- its version of IELTS, and people If this article resonates with you,
hili or their mother tongue. 'Errant' wishing to study or live in Africa and you would like to start learning
because they used the language of having to learn the language and to speak Kiswahili, then I’d recom-
their heart to express themselves – pass the test. We are allowed to mend the LEARN KISWAHILI
how saddening. The punishments dream; they say all dreams are valid. website where I have a well-struc-
varied but were all so demeaning. A tured course for business and family
student would be forced to wear a Kiswahili is the tie that binds Africa, learning. We help you to speak with
dirty sack or hang a badge around and it brings a host of benefits with confidence in weeks!
their necks written 'I spoke vernacu- it.
lar' until they found another student To register for the course, please use
speaking in the vernacular and hand- Strengthened social ties: How the link below:
ed over the item of punishment. do you feel when a stranger speaks https://msingiafrika--kiyiira.
That was sad, but the narrative is to you in your language? It warms thrivecart.com/learn-kiswahi-
changing. the heart, and you are immediately li-202/?ref=msingimag
drawn to that person. Social cohe- Use the code "msingi" to get an
additional free class.

WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 11 | MAR/APRIL 2021 73