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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Kiswahili and the African States: the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere |
Author: | Chacha, D.M. |
Year: | 2006 |
Periodical: | Kiswahili |
Volume: | 69 |
Pages: | 22-36 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Tanzania East Africa Africa |
Subjects: | language policy Swahili language pan-Africanism language Language and languages--Political aspects |
About person: | Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922-1999) |
Abstract: | Tanzania's first president, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, was a relentless pan-Africanist and a staunch socialist, who envisaged an independent, free and self-reliant people. He rejected Eurocentricity and forged national unity and identity in Tanzania by promoting Swahili as the national and official language. Just as Kiswahili promoted unity in Tanzania, it could promote African unity, bridging the linguistic barriers which retard pan-Africanism. To realize the pan-African goals Africa must embrace a new approach which recognizes the role of language. Continued reliance on imperfectly mastered foreign languages retards ingenuity and performance in scientific and technical pursuits and hampers economic growth, political stability and social cohesion. In Tanzania Kiswahili has become the language to create a national culture and preserve major parts of Tanzania's cultural heritage. Time and again Kiswahili has also been mentioned as the ideal language of social integration in Africa. Bibliogr., ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |