On World Kiswahili Language Day: a spiritual plea for understanding, identity, and faith in practice.
Jambo Waswahili! A familiar sound that moves both heart and soul—and one that is being celebrated today, on UNESCO’s World Kiswahili Language Day. The word Jambo simply means “Hello”. But the term Waswahili means much more, namely the entire Swahili-speaking community. And it is a big one! Over 200 million people around the world speak Kiswahili—a language that does not separate, but unites, functioning as a binding agent between nations.
A language with history—and a future
Kiswahili is an official language in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. It developed over centuries on the East African coast—from a Bantu core permeated with Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, and later even English and German influences. Want some examples? kitabu (which comes from Arabic and means “book”), shule (derived from the German word Schule, meaning “school”). The multifaceted character of the language makes Kiswahili the language of interface—developed as a means of communication for purposes of trade, diplomacy, and coexistence. While other languages have served to accentuate the barriers between communities, Kiswahili has always been an integrative tool.
By the way, almost everyone knows at least one sentence in Kiswahili, namely Hakuna matata—which means “No problems!”
Faith is the language of the heart
Kiswahili is not only significant on a political or cultural level. It is also a language of faith. It is used for praying, singing, and preaching. Anyone who has ever attended a New Apostolic divine service in East Africa has heard the familiar call: Amina! (“amen”) and has quickly come to realise that the gospel is also at home here.
Yesu Kristo ni Mwokozi wetu
“Jesus Christ is our Redeemer”
After all, faith can only unfold in its full power when it is understood. And it is best understood in the language in which people think, feel, and hope. It is precisely for this reason that the following rule applies in the New Apostolic Church: divine services are to be conducted in the respective national language, wherever possible. And of course the Holy Spirit—Roho Mtakatifu—is active in every mother tongue.When people hear the message of Jesus in Kiswahili, they not experience their faith as a foreign language, but rather quite naturally—as a part of their daily lives.
Unity in diversity
Whether in Dar es Salaam, Buenos Aires, or Berlin, the sequence of the divine services is the same, the liturgy familiar, and the sacraments identical. And yet, every divine service sounds a little different. This is not a contradiction, but rather constitutes a great wealth: after all, unity does not mean that we all have to do things the same way, but rather that we all belong together in faith.
Today the New Apostolic Church numbers over two million members in Eastern and Central Africa. Kiswahili is the spiritual mother tongue for many of them. It is in this language that choir hymns are composed, religious instruction is offered, and pastoral counselling is provided. And so it is that language itself bears witness to God, a God who communicates—in every language.
Is there one particular phrase people should know in Kiswahili? When asked this question, Joseph Ekhuya, the District Apostle of East Africa, responds: Umoja ni nguvu—”Unity is strength.”
Baba yetu Uliye Mbinguni
Our Father in heaven,
Jina Lako Litukuzwe.
hallowed be Your name.
Ufalme Wako uje,
Your kingdom come.
Mapenzi Yako yatimizwe, hapa duniani kama huko Mbinguni.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Utupe leo riziki yetu.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Kama sisi nasi tuwasamehevyo wadeni wetu.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Na usitutie majaribuni, Lakini utuokoe na yule mwovu.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Kwa kuwa Ufalme ni Wako
For Yours is the kingdom
Na nguvu, na utukufu,
and the power and the glory
Hata milele.
forever.
Amina.
Amen.