Discover Kiswahili

Discover Kiswahili: Language, Culture & History

Learn Kiswahili, reclaim culture, and uncover the history that proves why language is power.

Why Learn Kiswahili?

Spoken by over 200 million people, Kiswahili is Africa’s most widely spoken language and an official language of the African Union. From Kenya and Tanzania to Uganda, DRC and beyond, Kiswahili is a unifying force across the continent.

Learning Kiswahili is not just about words... it’s about reclaiming culture, building identity and bridging the diaspora with the continent.

👉 This Black History Month, take the first step by joining a free trial class in October.

What You’ll Gain

By joining Discover Kiswahili, you will:

Speak and understand Kiswahili in everyday situations
Gain confidence with greetings, introductions and conversations
Learn to describe yourself, tell your story and talk about daily life
Build vocabulary for home, travel, markets and other real-world settings
Join a supportive community of learners worldwide
Experience a powerful Pan-African collaboration between The Pan African Academy and Kenya’s Ujamii Institute of Language

Course Overview

Your enrolment includes:

24 live online Kiswahili lessons (small group, max 10 students)
6 exclusive cultural webinars (Language is Power) on the history & culture of Kiswahili
Access to a WhatsApp learner community
Certificate of Completion

💬 Learning Experience
This course is designed to help you speak Kiswahili with confidence. Over 24 weeks you’ll practice through conversations, role-plays and interactive activities.

Here’s what you’ll learn step by step:

Greetings & Introductions
Describing Yourself & Others
Telling Your Story (Past Events)
Everyday Words & Places
Giving Directions & Describing Things

👉 By the end of the course, you’ll be able to hold simple conversations, understand essential vocabulary and feel comfortable using Kiswahili in daily life.

"Language is Power" webinar series

Alongside your Kiswahili lessons, you’ll also gain access to our exclusive monthly webinar series - Language is Power. These six sessions will immerse you in the history, culture and politics of Kiswahili, helping you understand why learning the language is an act of empowerment and reconnection.

Monthly Webinar Details:

Why Reclaiming Language Is Revolutionary
How colonisation attacked African languages and why learning them today is resistance and healing.
The Rise of Swahili: From Coast to Continent
Tracing Kiswahili from its East African coastal origins to a unifying continental language.
Language, Identity, and Pan-Africanism
From Nyerere’s Ujamaa to the African Union - how Kiswahili became a tool for unity.
Hidden Histories: The Resistance in the Language
How proverbs, poetry and everyday speech carried the struggle for freedom.
Continent × Diaspora: Reconnecting Through Language
How learning Kiswahili bridges Black identity across continents and generations.
What Comes Next? African Languages and the Future
Kiswahili in media, tech and education and the role of learners in keeping languages alive.

A Pan-African Collaboration

This course is a partnership between The Pan African Academy (diaspora-based) and the Ujamii Institute of Language (Kenya-based). Together, we bring you Discover Kiswahili: Language, Culture & History - a course that bridges continents, celebrates heritage and makes Kiswahili accessible to learners across the world.

Course Teacher

Rahab Kamotho

Rahab Kamotho is an educator and cultural advocate from Kenya whose work brings people together through language and community. She is the founder of the Ujamii Institute of Language and co-founder of Afrolanguage Grove, and has taught Kiswahili to learners worldwide. Her teaching style weaves proverbs, music, storytelling, and food into each lesson, making every class an encounter with living culture.

Course Curator

Ekaete Alfred

Ekaete Alfred is a history educator, cultural strategist, and founder of The Pan African Academy - a platform dedicated to teaching African history, language, and culture. With over a decade of teaching experience, she creates dynamic learning experiences that reconnect people to Africa’s past, present, and future.

Over the 24 weeks, Ekaete will be delivering the "Language is Power" monthly webinars.

Course Logistics

Start Date: Rolling. First cohort - week of 3rd November 2025
Duration: 24 weeks (weekly classes - breaks built in for Christmas, Easter etc.)
Class Size: Maximum 10 students
Format: Online (Zoom)
Cost: £288 (just £12 per lesson!)

⚠️ Spaces are limited and enrolment closes 31st October.

FAQs

What if I miss a class?
Recaps/recordings will be provided.

Do I need prior knowledge?
No, this course is beginner-friendly.

How do I enrol?
Fill in the form below and transfer your course fee. Your place is confirmed once payment is received.

Do I need to pay everything at once?

You have the option to either send the full amount at the start of the course, or 50% before you start and the remaining 50% at the halfway point.

Other payment options can be discussed upon request.

Why £288?
You’re getting 24 live lessons with a native tutor, cultural webinars, and a Pan-African learning community - excellent value at just £12 per week.

What happens next?

Once you complete the enrolment form below, you will receive an email with further details - including payment info and the course calendar.

Enrol - DK

Enrol Now!

How to Secure Your Place:

Fill out the form below with your details.
Transfer the course fee (either full amount or 50%) to the bank details provided after submission.
Receive your welcome email and get ready to begin your learning journey!

⚠️ Your place is only confirmed once payment is received.