By Lake Zone Watch Writer
President Samia Suluhu Hassan will be guest of honour at the First Kiswahili International Conference which will take place in the Cuban capital, Havana, from November 7 to 10.
The Tanzanian leader will team up with her Cuban countetpart, Presideent Miguel Diaz-Canel, Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr Damas Ndumbaro, disclosed on Wrdnesday in Dar es Salaam.
The conference of its kinds on Tanzania’s lingua franca will draw 600 participants from various countries in the world.
Participants will come from private institutions, universities and Kiswahili associations.
The four-day event will witness the holding of a series of seminars including the launch of the Kiswahili-Spanish dictionary prepared by the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Ndumbaro said.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognises Kiswahili as the 7th international language spoken by more than 500 million people across the globe.
The island nation of Cuba hosts the conference as a step in reaching many Spanish speakers,, according to Dr Ndumbaro.