Swahili

Background

The SBS Swahili info seeker

Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. It is a lingua franca of the African Great Lakes region and other parts of Southeast Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Swahili serves as a national language of four nations: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The main languages spoken at home by:

• Tanzania-born people in Australia speak English 47%, Kirundi (Rundi) 28% and Swahili 25%
• Kenya-born people in Australia speak English 55%, Swahili 27% and Gujarati 18%
• Congo-born people in Australia speak Swahili 57%, French 31% and English 12%
• Uganda-born people in Australia speak English 74%, Luganda 14% and African Languages 12%

*Data from Department of Social Services, Australia Government https://www.dss.gov.au