Abstract:
Kiswahili is undoubtedly one of the most developed and expansively used indigenous African
languages nationally and internationally. At the dawn of African states political independence,
the founding fathers of the nations led by Kwame Nkrumah considered Kiswahili as an
appropriate language for African states unity. Adoption of Kiswahili as the universal language of
African continent could have gone a long way in realising the dream of the founding fathers of
one people, one nation, one language. However, as history bears witness, their dream remained
just a wish. On the contrary, Kiswahili, though not accorded Africa continent political
recognition, has continued with its linguistic conquest and expansion further from its indigenous
base in the East Africa’s coast to various countries in Africa and beyond. The status and usage of
Kiswahili has shifted and grown with the political, social and economic growth of nations which
use it for various purposes. Currently, it is a regional language in East African countries where it
wears several hats as a vernacular, national & official language, lingua franca and a vehicular in
various spheres of life. Internationally, Kiswahili has curved for itself a linguistic sphere in the
field of academia and international communication. This paper therefore seeks to document and
asses Kiswahili’s participation in the last fifty years in national, regional and international
developments.
