Recognized by UNESCO in 2021 as the first African language to have an International Day dedicated by the United Nations system, Kiswahili today connects more than 200 million speakers across Africa and beyond, serving as a bridge between communities, cultures and generations.
For Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) and a member of the UNESCO expert team for the English–Kiswahili AI Dictionary, Kiswahili’s greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people while preserving diversity.
“Kiswahili is uniquely structured as a symbol of unity, peace and shared understanding,” she says. “Because it belongs to no single ethnic community, it creates a neutral space where different cultures can meet without linguistic hierarchy.”
Originating from centuries of interaction along the East African coast, Kiswahili evolved through trade, cultural exchange and cooperation. Throughout its history, it has absorbed vocabulary from different communities while maintaining its African identity, making it a living example of intercultural dialogue.
Today, the language serves as an official language of the African Union and the East African Community, strengthening regional integration while supporting multilingualism. Since November 2025, it has become also the seventh official language of the UNESCO General Conference, joining Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Rather than replacing indigenous languages,
Dr. Asiimwe believes Kiswahili complements them by enabling people to use their mother tongues within their communities, Kiswahili for regional communication, and international languages for global engagement.
Strengthening multilingualism through digital innovation
As artificial intelligence transforms societies, UNESCO is working to ensure African languages are part of the digital future.
In 2025, UNESCO launched the English–Kiswahili AI Dictionary, developed through a collaborative process involving linguists, AI specialists and language experts. The online dynamic resource translates and explains key artificial intelligence terminology – 109 basic AI terms so far – in both English and Kiswahili, helping learners, educators, researchers, policy-makers and innovators navigate rapidly evolving AI concepts in an accessible way.
As a member of the UNESCO expert team that contributed to the dictionary, Dr. Asiimwe says the initiative represents much more than a conventional glossary.
“Traditional dictionaries capture static language; this AI Dictionary is a dynamic, living tool,” she explains. “It goes beyond direct translation by capturing context, idioms and cultural nuances, helping ensure conceptual meaning is not lost.”
The dictionary also contributes to UNESCO’s broader efforts to reduce digital language barriers and make emerging technologies more accessible to speakers of low-resource languages. By providing standardized AI terminology in Kiswahili, it supports education, research, innovation and ethical AI development across the region.
Dr. Asiimwe emphasizes that artificial intelligence can become a powerful tool for preserving and promoting Kiswahili, provided it is built on high-quality, locally relevant language data.
“AI models must reflect the richness and evolving nature of Kiswahili,” she says. “This means continuously incorporating contemporary literature, media, community feedback and regional expressions so that technology respects African contexts rather than simply translating words.”
A growing global language
The international recognition of Kiswahili reflects its expanding influence well beyond Africa. Increasingly taught in universities around the world, the language is opening new opportunities for academic collaboration, cultural exchange and economic cooperation.
For many speakers, this growing visibility also represents recognition of the intellectual and cultural value of African languages.
The designation of World Kiswahili Language Day has encouraged international organizations, educational institutions, publishers and digital innovators to invest in the language.
Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission
According to Dr. Asiimwe, UNESCO has played an instrumental role in this transformation by promoting Kiswahili as a language of inclusion and dialogue. “It has elevated Kiswahili from a regional lingua franca into an important instrument for peace, sustainable development and shared cultural heritage,” she says.
As UNESCO celebrates World Kiswahili Language Day, the Organization reaffirms its commitment to multilingualism and linguistic diversity as essential foundations for inclusive knowledge societies. In the digital age, initiatives such as the English–Kiswahili AI Dictionary demonstrate how technology can help safeguard languages while expanding access to education, innovation and intercultural dialogue.
For Dr. Asiimwe, the vision is clear: “Kiswahili belongs at the forefront of global digital transformation. As it expands across international platforms, it can foster deeper understanding between cultures, unlock new economic opportunities and ensure African voices are equal partners in shaping our shared digital future.”
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/kiswahili-bridge-cultural-diversity-dialogue-and-digital-innovation?hub=701
