Latest news with #Kiswahili
CAF
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Opa Clement: 'Tanzania will be back'
Tukumbuke. To remember in Kiswahili. Opa Clement Tukumbuke. Remember her name. The Tanzania captain, whose lone goal against the reigning African champions South Africa, ensured that the Twiga Stars registered their first ever point at the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations in two appearances – 2010 and 2025. Born in Mbeya, southwestern Tanzania, Opa as she is commonly known back home, is the current face of Women's Football in the East African nation. The 24-year-old is living her wildest dreams having worn the armband in the two games that she played – against South Africa and Ghana in Morocco. A childhood dream come true – playing at the biggest stage on the continent and representing over 67 million Tanzanians at home and across the world. She will remember the experience. 'For all of us that played at this WAFCON, this was our first time to feature at the tournament. We came here with the sole goal of going to the final, but we fell short. We did not fail because we leave here with so many lessons learnt. We feel that we represented our nation with honour. We gave everything that we could and at least out of the three games, we scored two goals and gained a point against the defending champions South Africa. That is something. Our plan is to come back to the WAFCON,' Opa says with hope for the future on her face. A WAFCON to remember From leaving Tanzania with the weight of a nation, to having their faces beamed to the world and the prestigious feeling of leading her teammates onto the fields in Berkane and Oujda in the Oriental Province of Morocco, Opa admits that this will always be an unforgettable feeling. The Twiga Stars like their nickname Twiga which means giraffe stood tall in their performances, displaying a never-give-up attitude and overall creating memories that they will hold onto as they return home after the group stages. 'We leave here with the understanding of tournament football. How you start sets the pace for the rest of the tournament. Against Mali, we felt that we did everything that was possible to win but conceded a late goal. Against South Africa, we scored first and against Ghana, we came from behind to equalize but then conceded three more goals. We shall take the lessons. We are going back home to assess our performance and to plan for the future. Future success 'guaranteed' Tanzania have been building their grassroots structures in recent years focusing on scouting talent across the country and opening clear pathways for the juniors to progress to the senior national team – the Twiga Stars. In the last five years, Tanzania have amassed regional titles while accumulating experience from across the continent. The Twiga Stars won the CECAFA Women's Championship last month at home in preparation for this WAFCON. They previously won the 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship after beating Malawi in the final in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape in South Africa. Their junior team won the 2020 COSAFA U17 Women's Championship in Port Elizabeth before they won the inaugural UNAF U17 Women's Championship last year held in Tunisia where they drew with the hosts and defeated both Egypt and Morocco. Jamila Mnunduka, who captained the U17s last year, has since been elevated to the U20s and remained in her captain's role while also featuring for the Twiga Stars at this WAFCON. 'Honestly, it has been a great pleasure for me to play for Tanzania at this WAFCON. I feel so honoured and grateful for this very special opportunity. I still cannot believe that I am playing alongside my role model Opa [Clement]. I used to see her on television and now I am sitting with her. It feels unreal but I am grateful and trying to take in every moment,' Mnunduka says with a big smile on her face. She continues, 'Every time that we play at the junior level, she texts and calls me to encourage me before and after the match. I know that I have a big sister who believes in me and that means a lot to me as a young player.' Mnunduka says that playing football has given her the opportunity to travel and see the world and that winning trophies is something that she wants to continue doing for Tanzania. 'We want to be consistent at this level. We want to come back to the WAFCON.' 'We leave Morocco having learnt so much. Seeing and being in games with all these great players in the opposing teams has taught me that I must continue working hard. The WAFCON is a whole different level. Against Ghana, when we conceded the four goals, it showed us that the weighing scale was not balanced. We must correct that.' Another teenager who impressed the head coach Bakari Shime despite losing to Zambia 0-4 over two legs in the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup 2025 Qualifiers is Lidya Maxmillian Kabambo. At 16, she started all three of Tanzania's Group C matches at this WAFCON. Kabambo came off the bench in Tanzania's opener against Mali before starting both games against South Africa and Ghana. According to Shime, Tanzania's plan is to further expose the teenagers to prepare for a future transition when veterans like Anastazia Katunzi eventually decide to call it a day. The assistant captain Katunzi was voted as one of the top three players within the squad by the head coach, coaching staff and players in three separate voting opportunities to showcase her versatility, leadership and overall excellence. Tanzania will face Ethiopia this October in the last round of qualification for the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2026 edition that will also be held in Morocco in March next year.
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gen Z leads Kenya's ‘Saba Saba March' against tax hikes and police brutality
Written by Eshan Agarwal Thousands had gathered at Nairobi's Kamukunji Grounds on July 7, 1990 to defy the then President Daniel arap Moi's ban on public gatherings. The protest was led by Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga where they demanded for the one-party clause embedded in the constitution to be revoked. Despite being faced with tear gas and batons, the protests' demands were heard and the president restored the multiparty system in December of 1991. Ever since, Saba Saba – meaning 'seven seven' – in Kiswahili has been a symbol of courage and Kenya's democratic right. This year, Kenyans took to the streets to protest against its government but were unfortunately met with lethal attacks from police in unmarked vehicles. This resulted in numerous casualties as well as the largest number of injuries and arrests to come from a Saba Saba protest till date. Evolution over the years Since its origin, Saba Saba has surpassed simply fighting for democracy. In the 2000s, activists used the occasion to highlight land rights and justice for the environment, whereas the 2010s turned its attention to police accountability and corruption. Now, the protests are largely driven by Gen Z, where they advocate for digital freedom, economic equality for all, and deeper political involvement ensuring Saba Saba continues to be an evolving force. Monday's nationwide protests This year's Saba Saba aligned with a recent finance bill that proposed higher taxes on digital transactions, fuel, and more basic goods. Outraged by this, thousands of young Kenyans marched in protest of this. There were chants for President William Ruto's resignation as well as demanding lowered prices of fuel, school fees, and action on the maize flour shortage. Security crackdown and shoot-on-sight order Not giving into the demands of the protesters, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen issued a 'shoot on sight' order for anyone who attempted to damage or storm police stations. Officers in covert vehicles attacked with tear gas, water cannons, and live rounds which violated court orders stating that police were supposed to have clear identification. By the end of the day, there had been at least 31 deaths, 107 injuries, and 532 arrests, reported KNCHR, recording the most lethal day in Saba Saba history. Economic and political grievances Over 25 percent of the youth in Kenya is unemployed. This, paired with inflation, led to rapid price hikes on basic commodities and deepened inequality. Protesters see the new finance bill as an attack on the already struggling families and the sign of an ignorant government. The passing of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang nearly a month earlier in police custody had intensified the calls for transparency and justice, further emphasising how out of touch the government was from ordinary Kenyans. (The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)
CAF
13-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
In Mohammedia, Zambia and DR Congo sang in unison
Inside the El Bachir Stadium for the final night of competition in this TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024, the supporters of Zambia and the DR Congo offered a rare moment: a football match transcended by a breathtaking community. And at the heart of this magical evening, a flash of lightning. Rachael Kundananji's goal in the ninth minute. A world-class effort, in a setting transformed into a volcano of sound. One goal, one roar The match had not yet found its rhythm when the Zambian striker was already striking. In the ninth minute, from a direct free kick slipped by the woman Zambian fans nicknamed "Kunda," Rachael Kundananji left Congolese goalkeeper Ruth Kashala no chance. 1-0 for Zambia. "It's a goal she knows how to score," Zambian coach Nora Häuptle commented after the match. "She only needs half a second. I'm proud of the way she carries the team, always with such simplicity, such efficiency, and above all, such energy." The goal instantly awakened the green and orange stands at the South Bend. The Zambian supporters, who came in large numbers with flags, drums, and vuvuzelas, made the stands shake. "Chipolopolo, Chipolopolo, Zambia ni moto moto!" (Zambia is fire, fire!) they shouted in unison in Kiswahili. The Congolese people responded: drums, faith, and Lingala But the DR Congo fans were not to be outdone. Dressed in red, blue, and yellow, the Congolese had also prepared their own score. And they responded with remarkable collective power, resuming the chants with drums and vuvuzelas. "Congo na biso, tokolinga yo seko!" (Our Congo, we will always love you!) "Fimbo na fimbo!" (Blow for blow!) The words resonated loudly, carried by hundreds of passionate chests. The stands seemed to echo each other from one corner to the next, in a musical duel paralleling the battle on the pitch between two neighbouring countries. On the pitch, the Leopardesses tried to respond. Thanks to the power of Naomie Kaba Kaba and the technique of Merveille Kanjinga, the Congolese women finished the first half dominating possession, but without managing to truly trouble Petronela Musole. A tense second half, carried by the stands After the break, the tension was visible. Zambia, firmly defending their lead. Kundananji dropped back to create gaps, while the midfield of Ireen Lungu and Racheal Nachula closed off the spaces. The Congolese women kept putting pressure on Zambia. And the chants continued: "Tokolanda yo Congo!" (We'll follow you, Congo!). In the Leopardesses block, the women danced, the men clapped. It was a party nonetheless, even if the scoreboard refused to budge. In the 68th minute, the Congolese team's best chance came: a long-range shot from Olga Massombo, deflected for a corner by a beautiful volley from Petronella Musole. The Congolese bench rose as one. But the equalizer still did not come. Nora Häuptle: "We were united, and that's the key" After the match, Nora Häuptle wore a wry smile. Her team did not fully control the match, but they won with determination and qualified for the quarterfinals. "What I liked was the discipline. We knew the DR Congo would push, and we defended as a team. Rachael was decisive, but the whole team held firm. And above all: what support from our fans today! It was like playing in Lusaka." The usually discreet Swiss coach did not hide her emotion at the spectacle in the stands: "I've never seen such an atmosphere in El Bachir. Seeing our supporters and those of the DR Congo responding to each other with music, with so much respect... That's also what this WAFCON is all about. A source of pride for all of us." Hervé Happy: "We lost on a minor detail." On the Congolese side, frustration mixed with dignity. Hervé Happy, the Leopardess' coach, regretted the lack of realism but praised his players' spirit: "It's a match we mustn't lose. But we conceded an early goal and chased the score. Our girls gave everything they had. I remember their desire, audacity, and courage." Asked about the exceptional atmosphere, Happy cracked a smile: "It was exceptional. The fans carried us. I heard chants I hadn't heard since the stadiums of Kinshasa... That's Congo. Even in defeat, we sing. And I'm sure we'll come back stronger." El Bachir's Best Night In this Mohammedia stadium, the site of several Group A matches, the duel between Zambia and the DRC will remain the emotional highlight of the tournament. Not for the scoreline, but for what happened around it. Supporters from both sides stayed long after the final whistle. They exchanged chants, smiles, dances, and even selfies with the players. Some impromptu mixed circles around the main stand. "Tonight, I saw the Africa I love," summarized Joëlle, a Congolese student living in Casablanca. "Sisters, brothers, songs, and football. It wasn't just a match. It was a celebration." And as the floodlights slowly dimmed on the El Bachir Stadium, the voices continued to resonate. One goal was enough. But that night in El Bachir, an entire stadium won. Gaining in intensity, in volume, in pure emotion. In the stands, Zambia and DR Congo traded blows, chants against drums, smiles against silence. On the pitch, Kundananji struck, and the Copper Queens held on. The score remains fixed, but the memory is full.
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
How Kiswahili builds cultural bridge between China, Tanzania
Legonga (second right) helps Chinese students study Kiswahili in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on July 4, 2025. – Xinhua photo DAR ES SALAAM (July 11): On a quiet morning, inside a sunlit classroom at the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam, a group of Chinese teachers was reciting Kiswahili greetings. 'Habari za asubuhi,' one said, smiling. 'Nzuri sana,' responded another. This simple exchange, 'good morning' and 'very good', is more than just a language lesson. It represents a growing movement of cultural curiosity, mutual respect, and educational exchange between China and Tanzania. As the international community marked World Kiswahili Language Day on Monday, the spirit of this day came vividly alive at the Confucius Institute of Tanzania's largest university, where Chinese nationals were embracing Kiswahili not just as a language but as a gateway to understanding local life. Kiswahili, also known as Swahili language, is one of Africa's most widely spoken languages, serving as a lingua franca across East and Central Africa. The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), at its 41st session held in Paris, France, in 2021, proclaimed July 7 of each year as World Kiswahili Language Day, making it the first African language to be recognised in such a manner by the UN. Yang Xin, a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute, said learning Kiswahili has been both a challenge and a necessity. 'At first, I couldn't understand anything,' she recalled. 'But thanks to the Confucius Institute, I started learning. It helps me adapt to life here and connect with people.' Zou Zhenzhen, another Chinese teacher, echoed that sentiment. 'Even using just a few Kiswahili words in class makes a difference. It shows students we respect their culture, and it makes them more excited to learn Chinese. You can see it on their faces.' Their approach is simple yet effective: to ask for help, practice outside of class, and apply what you've learned when shopping, riding taxis, or simply chatting with colleagues. 'Now I can order food, talk to a taxi driver, and even joke with friends. Language breaks the ice,' Zou beamed with a smile. Zhang being interviewed in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on July 4, 2025. – Xinhua photo Both Chinese teachers have been learning Kiswahili for the past two months, attending two two-hour sessions on Sundays. The impact of Kiswahili fluency goes beyond the classroom. According to Emmanuel Legonga, a local Tanzanian Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute, who also teaches Kiswahili to overseas Chinese in Tanzania, speaking the local language has practical ripple effects across industries. 'In infrastructure projects like railways and ports, when Chinese managers or engineers use Kiswahili, it builds trust with local workers,' Legonga explained. 'It removes the sense of distance. Workers feel seen, respected.' This is especially important in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, where large-scale collaboration between Chinese and Tanzanian professionals is vital. 'Language opens the door to transparency. It reduces misunderstandings and builds confidence,' he added. Legonga was elated when he revealed that one of his Kiswahili students is Zhang Xiaozhen, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam. In Zhang's eyes, interest in Kiswahili among Chinese nationals is steadily rising. 'In our last session, over 70 Chinese joined Kiswahili classes. This year, nearly 90 are enrolled,' she noted. 'Some start learning in China, others after they arrive. About 20 Chinese teachers have studied Kiswahili.' Zhang herself studies Kiswahili whenever her schedule allows. 'Language is a bridge. It connects people. And Kiswahili is becoming more important, not just in East Africa but globally,' she said. Zhang has identified strong cultural parallels between China and Tanzania. 'Tanzania's concept of Ujamaa, cooperation, and community echoes China's collectivist values. In both cultures, family and harmony are central,' she remarked. Chinese students attend a Kiswahili language class at the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on July 4, 2025. – Xinhua photo As Mussa Hans, Tanzanian director of the Confucius Institute, prepared to commemorate this year's World Kiswahili Language Day, he reflected on the institute's broader mission. 'We don't just teach language; we build relationships,' he said. 'We promote both Chinese and Kiswahili so that our people can understand each other better.' The vision is simple but profound: a future where the Chinese director speaks fluent Kiswahili and the Tanzanian director speaks Chinese. 'There should be no language barrier between our countries,' he said. 'Whether you are going from China to Tanzania or vice versa, learn Kiswahili, learn Chinese.' – Xinhua China Kiswahili language Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam Xinhua
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Rwanda reaffirms commitment to promoting Kiswahili language
Kigali: Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Kiswahili language as part of the country's efforts to strengthen African solidarity and fraternity. "Rwanda recognizes the importance of Kiswahili in achieving inclusive and equitable education. Our government made a decision in 2017 to designate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the country, alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and French," Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere told the closing the 4th World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, on Monday. "This move was not just symbolic. It was a deliberate strategy to position Rwanda within the East African Community (EAC) and the broader African linguistic landscape, while also strengthening African solidarity and fraternity," she said. Caroline Asiimwe, Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission, said Kiswahili language is fundamental to building society, nations, and the EAC region. She emphasised the commission's commitment to youth empowerment and digital innovation, urging young people to take ownership of Kiswahili's digital future and use it as a tool for entrepreneurship and peace building, reported Xinhua news agency. "Let us build AI tools, dictionaries, and platforms in Kiswahili not only to preserve the language but to empower the next generation of African innovators," Asiimwe said. Co-hosted by Rwanda and the East African Kiswahili Commission, the two-day celebrations were held under the theme of "Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development" to examine relevant policies, best practices, and stakeholder engagement. The event drew more than 300 participants, including senior government officials, delegates from EAC partner states, academics, Kiswahili experts, and university students. The celebrations featured a regional symposium, youth engagement sessions, and an exhibition. Participants explored how Kiswahili, artificial intelligence, and inclusive education can advance a culture of peace and drive innovative initiatives.
