Institute Director Habib Mubarak said the Institute was long overdue “considering the large number of Irish people who have visited, worked and volunteered in the Eastern African region where Swahili is spoken”.

“The staff and directors here are committed to making a positive contribution to the intercultural exchange between the people of Ireland and the people of Eastern Africa,” he continued.

The Institute will provide all levels of courses in Swahili for adults, from absolute beginners to advanced. It will also provide courses in Swahili for children both at the Centre and in schools. 

In addition to teaching and promoting Swahili as an African international language, the Institute will run Swahili Clubs where Swahili speakers will meet Irish people to socialize and to converse in Swahili.

Habib Mubarak said it had taken two years to finalize preparations for opening the college.

‘’Preparing the curriculum and lining up teaching materials and the teaching staff have been time-consuming but worth it all now that our mission to serve Swahili courses and cultural events to Dublin and Ireland is about to start”, he said. 

“The directors and staff are looking forward to contributing to the work of government and non-governmental organizations which help people share what is valuable in their culture, fostering appreciation and solidarity among different cultures in Ireland. 

“Above all they look forward to teaching Swahili to anyone interested and to providing avenues for people to celebrate Swahili and its culture.”

The official launch of the Swahili Institute will take place later this year with Prof Ali Mazrui, Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies based at Binghamton University, New York, as guest lecturer. (Source: Swahili Institute)