Swahili unites speakers throughout a wide region of East Africa, from Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean to Congo in Central Africa. This wide adoption makes Swahili one of the major languages of the African continent; it is an official language of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as of the African Union. The cultural heritage of Swahili plays an important role in the African Diaspora, making it a prominent starting point in fields of African Studies, African-American Studies, and the study of other cultures of African origin throughout the world. Knowledge of Swahili is important to governmental work, international non-governmental organizations, and international business.
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WHERE TO START
Department:
Department of African Cultural Studies
Advisor:
Andrew Bartsch, apbartsch@wisc.edu
Intro Class:
AFRICAN 331: First Semester Swahili
If you have background in Swahili, either through formal study, informal study, or as a heritage learner, contact the advisor listed above for placement information.
Learn more!
Information about the Swahili program on the department’s website
MAJOR
CERTIFICATE
LANGUAGE TABLE
Contact Adeola Agoke, adeola.agoke@wisc.edu, for details.
Habari Gani? [Ha-ba-rii Ga-nii]: "How are you?/What news?"