East African states push Kiswahili into AI push as digital language gap widens

The East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) is calling for urgent investment in artificial intelligence tools and digital language systems to ensure the Kiswahili language remains relevant in the global technological landscape and central to regional integration efforts.

This appeal coincides with the 5th World Kiswahili Language Day and the 3rd EAKC International Conference, hosted in Bujumbura, Burundi. The event convenes delegates from East African Community (EAC) member states, alongside experts in technology, policy, and development, under the theme “Kiswahili, Multilingualism, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).”

Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, EAKC Executive Secretary, highlighted Kiswahili's growing global recognition as a cultural and economic asset, spoken by over 250 million people. She emphasized its role not just in communication but as a strategic resource for peacebuilding, social integration, and diplomacy. Asiimwe views multilingualism in Africa as an economic enabler, crucial for trade, tourism, and cross-border cooperation.

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Kiswahili continues to be one of the fastest-growing global languages. It is not only a tool for communication, but a strategic resource for peacebuilding, social integration and diplomatic engagement.

The rapid advancement of AI presents both opportunities and risks, particularly concerning the underrepresentation of African languages in digital systems like machine learning models. The EAKC stresses the need for Kiswahili to actively shape, not just adapt to, the AI revolution. This requires collaboration between governments, researchers, and private tech developers to create open-source datasets and AI tools grounded in local linguistic and cultural contexts.

Priorities include investing in youth-led digital innovation for Kiswahili-based content and platforms, and establishing policy frameworks that formally recognize Kiswahili's role in regional integration. The conference aims to generate recommendations on language policy, digital transformation, and innovation to support broader EAC strategies, marking a decade since the EAKC's establishment.

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As we position Kiswahili within the evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem, we recognise both opportunity and urgency. We must ensure Kiswahili does not merely adapt to the digital revolution but actively shapes it.