- Kisii University will host the 23rd International Conference of the East African Kiswahili Association (CHAKAMA) on August 6–7.
- The conference will examine the impact of emerging technologies on Kiswahili research, teaching and language development.
- Scholars and language experts from across East Africa are expected to attend the regional forum.
Kisii University will host the 23rd International Conference of the East African Kiswahili Association (CHAKAMA) on August 6–7, bringing together scholars, researchers, lecturers and language experts from across East Africa to deliberate on the future of Kiswahili in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
According to Dr Riro Matinde, a language scholar at the university, the forum will be held under the theme, “Kiswahili na Utafiti katika Enzi ya Mabadiliko ya Kiteknolojia” (Kiswahili and Research in the Era of Technological Change).
Participants are expected from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries where Kiswahili continues to gain prominence.
Technology and language development
Organisers said the conference will examine how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital communication, language processing and online learning platforms, are reshaping Kiswahili research, teaching and its expanding role as a language of scholarship, governance and regional integration.
The conference comes a month after the global celebration of World Kiswahili Language Day on July 7, a day designated by UNESCO to recognise Kiswahili’s contribution to cultural diversity, education and international communication.
The annual celebration has reinforced the language’s growing influence beyond East Africa, with several African countries adopting Kiswahili as a language of instruction, diplomacy and regional cooperation.
CHAKAMA’s regional role
Founded on July 7, 2002, in Arusha, Tanzania, Chama cha Kiswahili Afrika Mashariki (CHAKAMA) is a regional professional association that brings together Kiswahili scholars, linguists and university lecturers from institutions of higher learning across East Africa.
The association was established to promote the development, teaching, research and preservation of Kiswahili while strengthening academic collaboration throughout the region.
Over the years, CHAKAMA has emerged as a leading voice in shaping Kiswahili language policy and advocating the wider use of Kiswahili in education, research and public administration.
The association has also worked closely with regional institutions, including the East African Kiswahili Commission, to advance the language as a key driver of regional integration.
Its biennial international conferences have become an important platform for scholars to present research findings, debate emerging linguistic issues and formulate policy recommendations on the growth of Kiswahili.
Previous editions have been hosted by universities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Kisii University conference will feature keynote addresses, academic paper presentations, panel discussions and exhibitions focusing on digital innovation, language technology, translation, literature, lexicography, corpus linguistics and contemporary approaches to Kiswahili teaching and research.
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According to Dr Francis Kareithi, a language scholar at Kisii University, the forum will provide researchers with an opportunity to explore how technology can be harnessed to preserve, modernise and globalise Kiswahili while safeguarding its rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
By Onwonga Yabesh, Language and History Analyst
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