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Kiswahili Language History

Kiswahili is spoken in Tanzania and Kenya. People from few other countries also speak the language, especially in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Commoros and few other places. However, outside Kenya and Tanzania the kiswahili dialects spoken in other countries are strongly influenced by other languages spoken in the countries. The language claims over 100 million speakers. This online dictionary of the living kiswahili language is not an effort of a language expert but an initiative of a kiswahili speaker who wants to put online a tool for native speakers and non-speakers to understand meanings of kiswahili words they find in text, spoken speech and elsewhere.

A brief history of the language as known to me is a mix of bantu languages which form the core of the language and many borrowed words from various other languages which the bantu speaking people had interactions with. The main among these is arabic which was introduced to bantu kiswahili speakers through trade routes. Other languages which also have influence in kiswahili language are english second major influence and german and portuguese. Persian also has left some footprints in kiswahili language. more information is available in here

Kiswahili language is part of the kiswahili culture, which has many faces including dress codes, customs and norms, songs, poems etc. This culture differs a bit from one location to another in Zanzibar and Pemba it has more arabic influence due to historical reasons compared to mainland Tanzania. Kiswahili language has a grammar which is explained in detail in here.

All in all kiswahili speaking land is blessed with a lot of tourist attractions to mention a few are fabulous beaches of Zanzibar and Pemba, nice sites for snorkeling and diving in Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia, nice coastal line in Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Lindi and Mtwara, the world tallest free standing mountain Mt. Kilimanjaro, Masai-Mara plains and Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro, Rubondo, Ruaha and Selous game reserve and many tourist attractions.