About the Center

The expansion and development of Kiswahili as both, a discipline and a language of wider communication has over the years made impressive strides locally, regionally and globally. This has brought about a number of challenges that deemed necessary to address them. These include among others harmonization of Kiswahili teaching, research, methods and techniques, dissemination of Kiswahili knowledge, Kiswahili programmes, use of ICT and media, collaboration and partnership. In responding with local, regional and global challenges in promoting and advancing Kiswahili, The State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) has recently established the Centre to efficiently deal with them in collaboration with other local, regional and international institutions with a similar interest.

VISION

To be the best Centre on Kiswahili Studies in the world.

MISSION

To offer quality services on Kiswahili Studies.

GOAL

The basic and primary goal of the Centre is to foster, maintain and develop Kiswahili in the highest possible standard that will preserve it in its pure and fine form with its best qualities and virtues while at the same time avoiding all possible tendencies which threaten to pollute its characterization of a soft, musical, expressive and classical language resulting in good speakers in whatever other languages they speak.

OBJECTIVES

In order therefore to achieve this goal, the objectives of the centre shall be:

  1. To develop research agenda, conduct diversified research and coordinate dissemination of the findings on Swahili language, history and culture.
  2. To establish a state of the art that will support research, documentation and presentation of the findings to the public, researchers and students, locally, regionally and internationally.
  3. To generate, document and disseminate Swahili knowledge, information and innovation for socio-economic and political development.
  4. To encourage exchange of staff and students among institutions involved with Kiswahili studies and research worldwide.
  5. To establish competitive Kiswahili trainings programmes for speakers of other languages that will attract learners across the boarders.
  6. To promote scholastic partnership and collaborative researches with Universities and other national and international institutes offering studies on African languages and establish centers of advanced studies and researches in Kiswahili.
  • To foster collaboration with other government and non-government organizations and other stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally in promoting and advancing Swahili usage, culture and history.
  • To strengthen the use of ICT and media in training and advancing Kiswahili and making of the language of broadcasting in the Eastern African region and ultimately in Africa.
  • To organize Swahili cultural festival and other relevant activities and events for fostering and advancing Swahili language.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GCKSA

  • Library Services
  • Consultation Services
  • Translation Services
  • Research Services

 

GCKSA is located within Zanzibar Stone Town, Vuga Road, adjacent to Ben Bella Secondary School.

For more information write to:

Coordinator,

Mr. Ali Saleh Khalfan

Global Centre for Kiswahili Studies and Advancement

P.O. Box 146

Zanzibar

Tanzania.

E-mail:   gcksa@suza.ac.tz