The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proudly commemorates World Kiswahili Language Day on July 7th each year.

• This special day acknowledges the significance of Kiswahili, also known as Swahili, as a language of immense cultural and linguistic value.
• With its rich history and wide usage, Kiswahili holds the honor of being the first African language to have a dedicated unit within the Directorate of Global Communications at the United Nations. 
• The theme chosen for the 2023 celebration of Kiswahili Language Day is “Unleashing Kiswahili’s Potential in the Digital Era.”

History of the day

On July 7th, 1954, the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the First President of the United Republic of Tanzania, adopted Kiswahili as a unifying language for their independence struggles. This historic decision solidified the role of Kiswahili in bringing people together and fostering national unity.