This semester, I have started teaching the Kiswahili language at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul. It is a milestone, as it marks the first time a sub-Saharan African language has entered the academic curriculum in Tรผrkiye and thus opens a new linguistic pathway for intercultural dialogue and understanding.
Language is more than a system of communication; it is a vessel and carrier of civilizations and a bridge between histories. Teaching Kiswahili in Istanbul โ a city historically known as the meeting point of continents and cultures โ offers an opportunity to connect Africa and Tรผrkiye through linguistic, cultural and intellectual exchange. In the classroom, Kiswahili becomes not only a subject of study but also a medium for imagining new solidarities across the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean worlds. It invites students and educators alike to rediscover the deep historical links between Eastern Africa and Anatolia.
Kiswahili, spoken by over 250 mill
Continue Reading on Daily Sabah
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.