DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has opened 17 Kiswahili training centers overseas to spread the use of the language worldwide, an official announced Wednesday.
Palamagamba Kabudi, minister for information, culture, arts and sports, said that in addition to establishment of 17 Kiswahili training centers overseas, the government has also built 30 training centers in the country.
Opening a one-day workshop on Africa's culture in the Morogoro region, Kabudi said the centers have been created under the guidance of the National Kiswahili Council.
Anna Tibaijuka, the coordinator of the workshop jointly organized by local and international learning institutions, said the teaching of Kiswahili should go in tandem with preserving the country's over 100 native languages.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Kiswahili is among the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with more than 200 million speakers.
In 2021, the General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed July 7 of each year as World Kiswahili Language Day, making it the first African language to be recognized in such a manner by the UN.
