In Colombia, Swahili will now be part of the school curriculum!

Swahili will be taught in Colombian schools as a foreign language, Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez announced. According to her, this decision will help Afro-Colombians reconnect with their roots. The Vice-President made the announcement in June 2023 upon her return from an official visit to Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa. The signed agreement will allow Colombian teachers to travel to Africa to teach Spanish, while teachers from African countries, including Kenya, will have the opportunity to teach Swahili in public schools in Colombia.

"It will be offered to Colombians of African descent and anyone who would like to learn the language" Márquez said."It's important to reconnect with our roots and rebuild historical memory."

Francia Marquez, Colombian Vice-President on the left and DP Gachagua, Kenyan Deputy President on the right Photo credit: Nairobi Wire

Malawi also announced, a few days ago, the integration of Swahili into the school curriculum. This initiative aims to facilitate trade communication with Swahili-speaking countries and strengthen bilateral relations. President Chakwera, at a joint press conference with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, expressed his administration's commitment to introducing language studies to foster closer ties between Malawi and its sister Swahili-speaking countries.

Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan on the left and Malawi president Chakwera on the right Photo Credit: Malawi Exclusive

If you'd like to follow suit, discover Swahili or promote language learning, sign up for the free trial course on Zoom, organised by ExtraLingual and LobbyNoir taking place on Sunday, July 23 at 10:00 am. Email us at infos@lobbynoir.com to receive the Zoom link.

A little reminder, also, that Vijana Collections offers an audio book of African nursery rhymes and bedtime songs. Click on the link below for more info about the book.

Livre sonore berceuses et comptines d'Afrique - LA MARKETPLACE LOBBYNOIR

This audio book is suitable for children aged 1 year + "African bedtime songs and Nursery Rhymes" is an interactive audiobook for children 1 year old and older with 10 African songs featuring the ...

https://marketplacelobbynoir.com/produit/livre-sonore-berceuses-et-comptines-dafrique/