Kaya 959 Reporter
From 2023 onwards, Swahili will be offered as an elective language course at the University of Cape Town (UCT), with the goal of making it a major subject by 2028.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng made the news during her opening remarks at a panel discussion on the importance of language and music in liberating and unifying Africa held at UCT on May 26.
Swahili will be taught jointly by the School of Languages and Literatures in the college of humanities and the Institute for KiSwahili Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, according to Phakeng.
Also Read: GALLERY: The FIFA World Cup trophy in studio accompanied by Siphiwe Tshabalala
Phakeng stated in her speech that South Africa has accepted various European languages for centuries and that the time has come for the institution to do the same for African languages.
“For centuries, South Africa has welcomed different European languages. It is about time that we do the same for the languages of our continent. Becoming fluent in Swahili is one way to reclaim our identity as Africans.”
READ NEXT: Government yet to announce exact fuel price hike for June



