Spoken as a first language, second language, and used as a lingua franca by over 200 million people across East and Central Africa, Swahili plays a crucial role in uniting diverse communities. It is widely spoken in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, the Comoro Islands, and Northern Zambia. Swahili is the national language of Tanzania, Kenya, and the D.R. Congo, and serves as one of the official languages of the East African Community member countries. It is recognized as a working language of the African Union. In recognition of Swahili’s cultural, educational, and unifying significance, UNESCO established July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day. This highlights the global importance of Swahili, which is also spoken in countries like Oman and by millions of diaspora communities in the USA, UK, Canada, and beyond. Swahili’s rich cultural heritage is closely tied to African Studies, Africana Studies, and the study of African diasporic cultures worldwide. By studying Swahili at the University of Pittsburgh, you can gain a deep understanding of the most widely spoken African language and broaden your perspective as a global citizen. You can even earn a Minor in Swahili!
Instructors
Swahili is taught by experienced instructors from Tanzania and Kenya:
Courses Offered
Please see Swahili Course Descriptions for information about Swahili courses offered at the University of Pittsburgh.
Why Study Swahili?
- Over 200 million people speak Swahili
- Knowledge of Swahili will enrich studies in archeology, anthropology, business, history, literature, politics, public health, medicine, sociology, veterinary science, and other degrees.
- Swahili competency is also crucial to governmental work, international work, and international business.
Use Swahili to Earn Pitt Credentials
- Swahili Minor
- African Studies Certificate
- Global Studies Certificate
- BPhil in International and Area Studies - Global Studies Track
- General Education Requirements
- Linguistics Major Language Requirement
Swahili Outside the Classroom
- African Languages Students Association (ALSA)
- Swahili Coffee Hour: This is a weekly Swahili conversational hour for Swahili learners and speakers. It aims at providing an opportunity to practice Swahili in a less formal context, and it is ran by the Swahili Fulbright Foreign Language Assistant (FLTA). This is open to all people who have an interest in learning/practicing their Swahili.
What do Students Say?
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"Learning Swahili is an incredible opportunity! The class atmosphere is open, fun, and energetic."- Shannon, '14
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"With Swahili, you're not only learning a means of communication, but a culture and a way of being. " - Esosa, '16
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"Swahili is so different from other languages I've studied which makes learning and speaking it really fun both inside and outside the classroom" - Alicia, '18
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More Information
For more information about our Swahili courses or other African diasporic languages offered in the Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center, contact:
Filipo Lubua, African & African Diasporic Languages Coordinator
Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center Department of Linguistics, CL G-58
lubua@pitt.edu