Regional leaders and stakeholders have renewed the call to the East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers to fast-track the process of amending the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC) to enable the utilisation of Kiswahili as an official language of the bloc.

As hundreds of people gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 3rd EAC World Kiswahili Language Day in Mombasa, Kenya, regional leaders and Kiswahili experts also called upon all EAC Partner States to pass laws and policies that will promote the use of Kiswahili. They emphasised the role of the language in fostering unity and solidarity across the region.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Hon. Aisha Jumwa, highlighted Kiswahili’s significant cultural and economic contributions to East Africa in keynote address.

“Kiswahili is our unifying language in the region, with over 200 million people speaking it. I urge all EAC Partner States to push for laws and policies to be written and published in Kiswahili,” said Hon. Jumwa.

Hon. Jumwa urged EAC Partner States to ensure laws and policies are made available in Kiswahili, even as she emphasised the global usage of Kiswahili and the efforts made so far by stakeholders in the promotion of the language. Hon. Jumwa also praised non-regional Kiswahili professionals for training initiatives that support the language’s spread, along with the formation of Kiswahili Clubs across the region.

The celebrations followed a two-day international conference organised by the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC), revolving around the theme “Kiswahili, Multilingual Education, and the Enhancement of Peace.” The conference explored the vital role of language and education in promoting regional peace.

On his part, Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Hon. James Magode Ikuya, reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to adoption of Kiswahili as an official language, adding that Kiswahili was now compulsory subject in the country’s schools.

“With our language, we can set our own agenda. Kiswahili is our own language. These celebrations reiterate the region’s goodwill in promoting the growth and development of the language,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Justice Nestor Kayobera, said that adopting Kiswahili as an official language would enhance citizens’ understanding of the proceedings of the EACJ across the region, currently delivered primarily in English.

“The Treaty establishing the EAC recognises the English language as the official language and Kiswahili as a lingua franca. Those who find themselves in courts, most of them use Kiswahili, but judgments are delivered in English because the law that guides the judiciary was enacted in English,” said Hon. Kayobera.

Justice Kayobera added that EACJ cannot thus deliver its rulings in Kiswahili terming it unfortunate that citizens are not able to follow proceedings and understand judgments in their own language.

In her remarks, the EAKC Executive Secretary, Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, singled out the UN’s recent recognition of Kiswahili and reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to promoting the language across East Africa

“In the last two days, we have had stakeholders from all EAC Partner States, discuss the status of Kiswahili usage in their countries, the need for Kiswahili language policy and its use in our education systems. As a commission responsible for sharing the efforts of the development and use of Kiswahili in the EAC, I reiterate our commitment to working with all regional stakeholders to ensure we realise our goal,” said Dr. Asiimwe.

During the event, the EAKC also unveiled a book containing papers presented during the previous years’ Kiswahili Day celebrations, marking a significant milestone in the promotion and documentation of Kiswahili’s cultural and educational contributions.

Also present at the event were: Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Ms. Ummi Bashir; Likoni Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Mishi Khamisi Mboko; Mombasa Woman Representative Hon. Zamzam Mohammed; Heads of EAC Institutions; and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, among other dignitaries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) (www.NBA.com) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced that the 20th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa will be held at the American International School of Johannesburg from Saturday, Aug. 3 – Tuesday, Aug. 6, marking the 16th time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in South Africa.  BWB Africa camps have also been held in Dakar, Senegal (2010 and 2019), Luanda, Angola (2016) and Cairo, Egypt (2022).  

BWB Africa 2024 will bring together 30 boys and 30 girls from more than 20 African countries to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their peers from across the continent.  The campers and coaches, who will be announced prior to the camp, will also take part in life-skills, leadership development and NBA Cares programming.

“Bringing Basketball Without Borders back to South Africa for its milestone 20th edition reflects the incredible momentum we’re seeing for basketball in the country,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi.  “We look forward to welcoming some of the most talented boys and girls from across the continent for four days of high-level basketball training, competition, and leadership development that will have a lasting impact on their on-court and personal journeys.”

“Basketball Without Borders continues to be a real lever for basketball on the continent,” said FIBA Africa Executive Director Alphonse Bilé.  “As part of our ongoing collaboration with the NBA in Africa, which also includes the Basketball Africa League (BAL), BWB continues to elevate our sport and provide invaluable opportunities and experiences for African youth and coaches, both on-and-off the court.  I would like to extend my thanks to NBA Africa and wish all the participants a rewarding and successful camp.” 

BWB Africa 2024 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.

Forty-one former BWB campers were among the record 125 international players (https://apo-opa.co/3LfzKib) on opening-night rosters for the 2023-24 NBA season, including 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), who became the first former BWB camper to be named NBA MVP, and 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012).  In total, 13 former BWB Africa campers have been drafted into the NBA since the first BWB Africa camp in 2003, including Ulrich Chomche (Cameroon), who was selected 57th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2024 NBA Draft last month.  Sixty-three former BWB Africa campers have also been featured on BAL team rosters over the league’s first four seasons.

BWB has reached more than 4,400 participants from 142 countries and territories since 2001, with 127 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA.  The NBA and FIBA have staged 75 BWB camps in 50 cities across 33 countries on six continents.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contact:
Pawel Weszka
NBA Africa Communications
pweszka@nba.com
+27 10 007 2666

About NBA Africa: 
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more. 

NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fourth season in June 2024.  Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Asmara Music School graduated 26 students with certificate today after completing a two-year training program on various musical instruments.

Mr. Elias Woldegebriel, the director of the school, indicated that the training covered basic music theory, the history and development of music, an introduction to voice and music synchronization, and instruction on 13 types of musical instruments, including seven modern and four traditional instruments.

Mr. Elias also called on all concerned institutions and partners to strengthen their participation and contributions to the development of music in the country, addressing the challenges that Asmara Music School is encountering.

The trainees, on their part, expressed their readiness to contribute to the development of music in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has named Ambassador Emmet Kennedy as Chief of Protocol of the Executive Mansion. Ambassador Kennedy comes highly recommended with many years of experience.

Meanwhile, Ms. Winifred Mardia Deshield has been named Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Executive Mansion.

These appointments take immediate effect.

President Boakai calls on all those appointed to continue to demonstrate diligence, commitment, integrity, professionalism, and loyalty in service to country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.