Swahili, often referred to as Kiswahili Is the most spoken language in Africa spoken by over 200 million people in various countries across Africa.

It is a Bantu language(language family of about 600 languages for peoples of Central, Southern, Eastern and Southeast Africa.) Its rich history, cultural significance, and widespread usage have made it a prominent language not just within Africa but also globally. So, the question arises, which country primarily speaks Swahili?

The East African Coast

The UN declared July 7th of every year as the world’s official day to celebrate the Swahili language, Kiswahili is the first African language to be recognized in such a manner by the UN.

Swahili originated from the interactions between the Bantu-speaking communities of the East African coast and the Arab traders who frequented these regions. Over time, the language evolved, incorporating words and influences from Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, and other African languages.

Swahili speakers spread over more than 14 countries: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Comoros.

Tanzania:

Perhaps most prominently, Tanzania is often considered the epicenter of Swahili culture and language. Swahili is Tanzania’s national language and is spoken by the majority of its population. In Tanzanian cities like Dares Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha, Swahili is not just a means of communication but a symbol of national identity.

Kenya:

In neighboring Kenya, Swahili also holds a vital place. While the country boasts a diverse range of languages and ethnic groups, Swahili, alongside English, serves as an official language. Coastal cities like Mombasa and Lamu are known for their deep-rooted Swahili culture.

Uganda:

While English is the official language of Uganda, Swahili is widely spoken, especially in regions close to the Kenyan border and among communities that have historical ties to the Swahili culture.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Just like Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 200 languages spoken in the country. While French is the official language and widely used in education and government, there are four national languages: Kituba (Kikongo), Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba.

Rwanda

It is one of the African countries with the most official languages 4 in total; Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French and English. Kinyarwanda is the language most widely spoken in Rwanda. English and French are basically tied for second place linguistically.

Burundi

Kiswahili is used widely in Burundi but is not recognized as an official language; only French, Kirundi, and English have this national distinction.

Being a former Belgian colony, French language is widely used in higher education and administration. However, only between 3 – 10% of the population can speak French fluently. In 2014, Burundi declared English an official language.

Other Kiswahili speaking African countries include; Comoros island, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique

Africa’s most spoken local languages

Language	No of Speakers
Swahili	200 million
Hausa	120 million
Amharic	57 million
Yoruba	50 million
Igbo	45 million
Fulani	41.6 million
Oromo	37.4 million
Berber	32 million
IsiZulu	28 million
Malagasy	20 million