- Mr Malema called for the adoption of a common language in Africa, hinting at Swahili being that language.
- Swahili is the most spoken native language in Africa, commonly used in East and Central African states. It is an official language in Kenya and Tanzania.
ADVERTISEMENT
Julius Malema calls for a single African president and wants Swahili to be made the official African language
Malema also called for the unification of Africa, rooting for a single currency, single president and single parliament.
Julius Malema
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
South African leader, Julius Malema has picked an African language spoken by approximately 100 million people across the continent and suggested that it be made the official language of Mama Africa.
Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Economic Freedom Fighters, where he issued a speech touching on a series of issues, including the Donald Trump tweet on South Africa’s land reforms, Mr Malema called for the adoption of a common language in Africa, hinting at Swahili being that language.
“We must develop a common language that can be used throughout the continent. Like Swahili, if it can be developed as the language of the continent,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the EFF media briefing, Malema also called for the unification of Africa, rooting for a single currency, single president and single parliament.
Swahili is the most spoken native language in Africa, commonly used in East and Central African states. It is an official language in Kenya and Tanzania.
Approximately 100 million people are able to converse in Swahili. That figure means Swahili is spoken by more people than Korean or Italian.
Swahili is also one of the official languages of the African Union.
ADVERTISEMENT
The leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party remarks comes just months after Twitter officially recognised Swahili as one of the languages users can communicate with on the social site, effectively making Swahili the first African language to be recognised by the US-based social networking site.
Early last year, Rwanda also joined the bandwagon and officially adopted Swahili as one of its official languages.
Swahili, which is not a language historically used in the land of a thousand hills, will be used for administrative purposes, used in official languages in some official documents and becomes the fourth language after Kinyarwanda, English and French.
Well, it seems slowly but surely Swahili is on its way to conquering the continent in its now world famous slogan and spirit of Hakuna Matata!
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
From 1,500 to 52,000: The student boom reshaping UK immigration laws
Russia and China are much less sneaky than the West - DRC president
10 countries in Africa with the worst press freedom in 2024
FCMB Group sustains growth momentum, profit rises 192.6% in Q1 2024
DBNC 2024 impacts, sets the pace for entrepreneurs
Navigating success: Insights from a leading IT expert
US and French governments are lobbying Nigeria to host their military bases - report
Russian aid arrives in Niger amid growing bilateral ties
