Hakuna Matata: Malema calls for adoption of Swahili as Africa’s common language
The leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, Julius Malema, has called for the adoption of a common language in Africa, hinting at Swahili being that language.
Malema made the remarks at a media briefing organized by the EFF, where he issued a speech touching on a series of issues, including the Donald Trump tweet on South Africa’s land reforms.
“We must develop a common language that can be used throughout the continent. Like Swahili, if it can be developed as the language of the continent,” he said.
#EFFMediaBriefing Malema: We need to start doing away with those things. Maybe not in our generation, but in generations to come, we must develop a common language that can be used throughout the continent. Like Swahili, if it can be developed as the language of the continent.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 28, 2018
Swahili is the most spoken native language in Africa, commonly used in East and Central African states. It is an official language in Kenya and Tanzania.
Approximately 100 million people are able to converse in Swahili. That figure means Swahili is spoken by more people than Korean or Italian.
Swahili is also an official language of the African Union.
In the EFF media briefing, Malema also called for the unification of Africa, routing for a single currency, single president and single parliament.
#EFFMediaBriefing Malema: We need a border-less continent, We need one currency, one paliarment and one President that can unite the continent. We need a United States of Africa. We need one Africa.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 28, 2018
