Swahili
Swahili is the most widely spoken
African language, with 50 million speakers in East Africa and Central Africa,
particularly in Tanzania (including Zanzibar) and Kenya. In addition to Tanzania
and Kenya, many people speak Swahili as a first or second language in Uganda,
Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, and Congo (formerly
Zaire). The Swahili language, is basically of Bantu (African) origin. It
has borrowed words from other languages such as Arabic probably as a result of
the Swahili people using the Quran written in Arabic for spiritual guidance as
Muslims.
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![Tanzania - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/tz-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Kenya - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/ke-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Uganda - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/ug-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Somalia - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/so-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Mozambique - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/mz-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Malawi - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/mi-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Burundi - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/by-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Rwanda - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/rw-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Zambia - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/za-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Congo - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/cg-flag.gif){kind=small}