PARIS: TANZANIA will host the International Kiswahili Conference in Paris, France, from April 27 to 30, 2026, the government has confirmed.
The conference, aimed at celebrating the global growth of Kiswahili, will be held under the patronage of UNESCO and will bring together language experts, cultural leaders and international stakeholders to discuss the future of Kiswahili and its role in fostering global communication.
The announcement was made by Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda during his address at the 26th International Mother Language Day celebrations at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Speaking on behalf of the Tanzanian government, Makonda highlighted the significant role Kiswahili plays not only in Tanzania but across the East and Central African regions, where it serves as a unifying language for over 120 ethnic groups.
“We are honoured to invite global leaders and language experts to join us in Paris for this momentous event. The conference will provide a platform to highlight the importance of Kiswahili in diplomacy, education and sustainable development,” said Makonda, who also presented greetings from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who commended UNESCO for its continued efforts to promote mother languages worldwide.
The International Kiswahili Conference will also serve as a follow-up to UNESCO’s recognition of July 7 as World Kiswahili Day, an initiative that has helped elevate the language’s status internationally.
Kiswahili is now recognised as the first African language to be officially acknowledged by the United Nations, strengthening its role in global dialogue and cultural exchange.
In his address, Makonda underscored that Kiswahili is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide, with an increasing presence in academic institutions across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
He also stressed the language’s pivotal role in enhancing social cohesion within Tanzania, stating that Kiswahili has been instrumental in uniting people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
“Tanzania’s journey in promoting Kiswahili is not only a story of cultural preservation but also a testament to the power of language in fostering peace and development. The Kiswahili Conference will explore ways in which the language can further contribute to global dialogue, education and unity,” Makonda added.
The event will feature discussions on mother tongue education, multilingualism in the digital age and how Kiswahili can serve as a bridge between cultures. A key topic will be the challenges in global education, where nearly 40 per cent of students worldwide are not learning in a language they fully understand.
Makonda noted that children learning in their mother tongue tend to have stronger cognitive skills, greater selfconfidence and a better understanding of their cultural identity.
In addition to the conference, Tanzania’s Minister for Culture reaffirmed the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen multilingualism, including initiatives such as the National Kiswahili Corpus and the Atlas of Tanzania’s Mother Languages.
These projects are aimed at advancing the use of Kiswahili in research, education and digital platforms, ensuring that the language remains relevant in a rapidly changing world.
The conference will also focus on the future of youth involvement in Kiswahili promotion, particularly in digital spaces, where young innovators are using the language in music, film, literature and online platforms