From Muscat to Ontario, Kiswahili’s global influence finds new recognition

Toronto, Ontario — A language shaped along the East African coast and carried across the Indian Ocean centuries ago is finding new recognition around the world, from a major cultural celebration in Oman to efforts to establish Swahili Heritage Month in Ontario.

More than 300 guests gathered at the Diplomatic Club in Muscat as the Embassy of Tanzania in Oman hosted its first celebration of World Kiswahili Language Day, highlighting the centuries-old cultural, linguistic and historical ties connecting Oman, Tanzania and particularly Zanzibar.

The event brought together diplomats, academics, business leaders and members of the Tanzanian and Omani communities for performances of music and dance, along with displays of traditional kanga cloth and discussions about Kiswahili’s history and growing international influence.

Maulidah Bwanakheir Hassan, Tanzania’s ambassador to Oman, said Oman played an important role in the development of the cultural and linguistic connections that shaped the Swahili coast.

“Oman played a significant role in that history,” Hassan said. “The longstanding maritime relationship between Oman and the East African coast, particularly Zanzibar, facilitated the exchange of people, ideas and commerce.”

She said centuries of interaction helped Kiswahili absorb many words of Arabic origin while retaining its Bantu grammatical foundation, creating a language reflecting exchanges between African and Arab civilizations.

Those connections deepened during the 19th century when Sultan Said bin Sultan transferred his court to Zanzibar, strengthening political and commercial links across the Indian Ocean and contributing to Kiswahili’s growth as a major language of communication in East Africa.The historical relationship remains visible today through families with roots on both sides of the Indian Ocean.

“Oman remains the only country outside Africa with a longstanding Swahili-speaking community, and many Omani families continue to share ancestral ties with Tanzania, particularly Zanzibar,” Hassan said. “Kiswahili is one of the strongest bridges connecting our two nations.”

That bridge is increasingly extending far beyond East Africa. UNESCO says Kiswahili connects more than 200 million speakers across Africa and beyond. In 2021, the organization proclaimed July 7 World Kiswahili Language Day, making Kiswahili the first African language to receive such international recognition within the United Nations system.

The language is widely used in education, commerce, diplomacy, media and regional integration and is an official or working language in major African institutions, including the African Union and East African Community.The 2026 international observance was held under the theme;

“Kiswahili for Peace, Solidarity and Global Economic Diplomacy,” reflecting efforts to position the language not only as cultural heritage but as a tool for international co-operation and economic opportunity.

Riadh bin Abdalla Said Al Busaidi, an author and cultural speaker who participated in a group discussion at the Muscat event, said promoting Kiswahili can help preserve cultural identity while creating opportunities beyond language and heritage.

“For Tanzania, promoting Kiswahili is part of preserving the national identity while sharing one of Africa’s greatest cultural treasures with the world,” Al Busaidi said. “It also creates opportunities for stronger educational exchanges, tourism, trade and cultural understanding among nations.”

Al Busaidi also discussed the history of the kanga, the colourful printed cloth closely associated with Swahili culture and widely worn in Tanzania and elsewhere along the East African coast. He traced the garment’s evolution through centuries of cultural exchange before it became an enduring form of identity and expression.

Kanga cloth is particularly known for printed Kiswahili sayings and proverbs that can communicate messages about love, friendship, family, social relationships and everyday life.

Kiswahili recognition reaches Ontario

The growing international profile of Kiswahili is also being reflected thousands of kilometres away in Canada, where Ontario legislators are considering formally recognizing the cultural heritage of the province’s Swahili-speaking communities.

Bill 135, the Swahili Heritage Month Act, 2026, was introduced in the Ontario legislature on June 2 by Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam.The bill proposes proclaiming July of each year as Swahili Heritage Month in Ontario, deliberately aligning the provincial celebration with World Kiswahili Language Day on July 7.

The bill’s preamble recognizes that thousands of Swahili speakers and their families live in Ontario, including communities with roots in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Africa and the global diaspora.

It also recognizes the cultural, artistic and economic contributions Swahili-speaking communities have made to Ontario. If passed and granted Royal Assent, the legislation would give Ontario a month dedicated to celebrating Swahili language, culture, traditions and history — adding a Canadian chapter to a broader international movement raising the profile of one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages.

From the historic trading ports of Zanzibar and Oman to diaspora communities in cities such as Toronto, Kiswahili’s journey illustrates how a language born from centuries of cultural encounters continues to connect people across continents.

The Muscat celebration underscored that history while pointing toward a broader future for Kiswahili — as a language not only of heritage and identity, but also of diplomacy, trade, tourism and international cultural exchange.

Msimulizi is now on the Whattsup Channel. Click here