Professor Wangui Wa Goro, a translator, writer, poet and cultural curator has said Africa needs to embrace Kiswahili as its own language.
Kiswahili meaning coastal language has been added to various education curriculum spoken languages and it is spoken by an estimated 80 million people in East and Central Africa.
Speaking at the third edition of the Kusi Ideas Festival at the Accra International Conference Center, Prof Wa Goro said “Language is a currency, we need to all learn Kiswahili. We can start by learning simple words like hello, and goodbye’’
According to her, Kiswahili can be unique to Africa because it is a way to express our unique ideas and customs within different countries.
She added that most African countries are multi-lingual and speak more than one language, and not having a common language is endangering the continent.
The Kusi Ideas Festival is an idea market for Africa from Africa, providing solutions and innovations for the next generation.
The theme for this year’s Kusi Ideas Festival is: “How Africa Transforms After the Virus” and subtitled “Beyond the Return: African Diaspora and New Possibilities”.
Winifred Lartey
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa, and 106.9 in Walewale
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand #KusiFest2021
