Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter- Thanks Larry Madowo and Kenya at Large

[COLLOH-MZII RELOADED]

Most African languages for the past decade and over of social media platform Twitter’s existence have been referred to as Indonesian in terms of translation.

That has changed with Twitter’s official recognition of Swahili as a language. It became the first African language to achieve that accomplishment. Swahili is however yet to be added in the language settings of Twitter.

The network now recognizes Swahili words and offers translation of the widely spoken and written East and Southern African language.

Since last week, Twitter kick started detection of the language in tweets and subsequently offers a close to perfect translation as with most other foreign languages.



Kenya Ministry of Sports and Heritage joined Twitter users to celebrate the feat. “Kiswahili which is widely used in East Africa, is Kenya’s national language & it unites the people of Kenya,” the tweet said in part.

TWITTER RECOGNISES SWAHILI AS A LANGUAGE:

USA based social networking site Twitter recently added the capability to detect Swahili words in tweets & to translate them. Kiswahili which is widely used in East Africa, is Kenya’s National language & it unites the people of Kenya. pic.twitter.com/TMzgWU1IXu— Ministry of Sports and Heritage (@moscakenya) May 7, 2018

Arriving at the feat, however, did not come easy as Kenyans – known to be vibrant on the platform staged protests with the hashtags [HASHTAG]#SwahiliIsNotIndonesian[/HASHTAG] and [HASHTAG]#TwitterRecognizeSwahili[/HASHTAG].

But like all google translate efforts, some translations have fallen short of the import of what is meant. But for all it is worth, it positions Swahili as a fore runner in the area.

Records indicate that the language is spoken by 50 million plus people especially in East Africa – it is listed as national language of: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda. People in parts of the DR Congo also speak it.

Hausa is now on Facebook hit “so” if you think it is a good thing. [That would be “like” for any non-Hausa speakers] https://t.co/61dMvhl55F— africanews (@africanews) August 2, 2016

 

[N'yadikwa]

Wangeweka kiarabu si ndio cha pili Kwa idadi kubwa ya wazungumzaji Afrika baada ya kiingereza!. Shkamoo Kiswahili

 

[Geza Ulole]

In Tanzania we r 55 mln and all of us can speak that language! How comes it is only 50 mln users?

 

[COLLOH-MZII RELOADED]

CNN)After years of hashtags and outcries, Twitter now recognizes Swahili, one of East Africa's most common languages.

And that's poa sana -- or as Twitter would tell you, pretty awesome.

The social media platform now offers translation for the language spoken by tens of millions in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.



It's unclear when Twitter started recognizing Swahili. Before that, it described Swahili tweets as Indonesian and translated them into a mumbo jumbo (or mambo, in Swahili) of incoherent words.

The recognition comes after a campaign by Kenyans on social media, who regularly used hashtags [HASHTAG]#SwahiliIsNotIndonesian[/HASHTAG] and [HASHTAG]#TwitterRecognizeSwahili[/HASHTAG] on the social media platform to demand recognition.

The social media platform is popular among Africans, who use it to amplify their concerns and create online communities. Africans on Twitter also use it to celebrate their cultures, air their grievances or just share a good joke.

Kenyans are among the most active social media users in Africa.

"We discuss life, love, politics, philosophy, and all else one would expect," says Mark Kaigwa, founder of the African digital strategy consultancy Nendo.

They also use the network to crowd-fund for campaigns and highlight the positive side of Africa.

 

[COLLOH-MZII RELOADED]

In Tanzania we r 55 mln and all of us can speak that language! How comes it is only 50 mln users?

Twitter users dude

 

[COLLOH-MZII RELOADED]

Twitter now speaks Swahili. Poa sana!

 

[tuusan]

Kenya kila kitu ni chenu [emoji23][emoji23] btw sio nyie mlikua mnasema watz wanaandika kisw Twitter haipendezi??wakenya kuweni na msimamo acheni kukitukuza kingereza kwanza sio lugha yenu...Ongea kingereza binuka uwezavyo lakin kisw bomba sana

 

[Synod]

Wangeweka kiarabu si ndio cha pili Kwa idadi kubwa ya wazungumzaji Afrika baada ya kiingereza!. Shkamoo Kiswahili

Cha kwanza ni kiarabu cha pili kiswahili hapa Africa

 

[COLLOH-MZII RELOADED]

Thanks Larry madowo
I have over one million followers on Twitter. But I’m ready to quit.

 

[pingli-nywee]

Huu ndio wakati mwafaka wa serikali ya Kenya na wizara ya elimu kufanya jitahada za kweli za kukikuza kiswahili. Inaudhi sana kwamba kampuni kubwa kubwa kama Safaricom na stesheni za Tv. ndizo zinazoongoza kwenye shughuli ya kuchafua lugha. Utasikia Bamba 100 na Safaricom mara dosika, kwachua na Ntv, Jibambe na Safaricom. Utumizi wa maneno kama hayo bila ya kuashiria kwamba sio kiswahili sanifu ni kuwakanganya wanafunzi bure.

 

[MK254]

Kenya imesababisha Kiswahili kifahamike duniani, jitihada zetu zinaendelea kuzaa matunda, uwezo wetu wa kuongea lugha nyingi zikiwemo zetu za asili ni jambo la kutia fahari.
Tunaongea Kingereza, Kiswahili, na lugha zetu za asili za Kiafrika.

 

[REDEEMER.]

Aliefanya tweeter itambue kiswahili ni mtanzania tena ametulia tulii

 

[REDEEMER.]

 

[Kheri Hansen]

How is this a big news...mmekosa vya maana? au Trump hajapost kitu

 

[Jay456watt]

Am i hallucinating or that guy's name is January?

 

[Bantugbro]

Mh January Makamba ni Waziri anayeshughulikia mambo ya muungano na mazingira katika serikali ya Mh Magufuli.

 

[pingli-nywee]

Kazi kwenu watz kwenye Instagram.

 

[Junior Clinton Mr.]

Na Page Zote official za Laliga juzi wameanza kutangaza kwa kiswahili.

 

[pingli-nywee]

Cha kwanza ni kiarabu cha pili kiswahili hapa Africa

Kiarabu kiswahili kihausa. Huku SSA kwa wanubi kiswahili kinaongoza.

 

[Junior Clinton Mr.]

Kiswahili chazidi kuwa lulu duniani, La Liga yathibitisha - NIJUZE