Join ASP, the Swahili Student Association (SSA), and the Less Commonly Taught Languages Center for a celebration of the vibrant Swahili language and culture! Free food will be served, and you will have a chance to engage with an African language that is spoken by millions of East and Central Africans in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as in Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Comoro Islands, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Northern Zambia. Swahili is the official national language of Kenya and Tanzania and is one of the working languages of the African Union. The number of Swahili speakers in Africa increases yearly because of its everyday use in media, commerce, education, and as a regional lingua franca. Swahili cultural heritage is intrinsically connected to African Studies, Africana Studies, and the study of other cultures of African origin in other places in the world. So learning a widely-spoken African language, like Swahili, is essential to being an informed, globalized citizen.

The Swahili Student Association (SSA) is an organization about learning more about East African cultures or polishing their Swahili skills. SSA exposes members and guests to the practices of Swahili culture through conferences, events, places, and interaction; which will allows students to practice their Swahili and to share their knowledge with other Pitt students. Other activities of SSA include presentations, fun events, and discussions about modern Swahili culture and the many countries that speak Swahili. Meetings take place once every other week on Wednesday nights at 9pm and is open to all students, faculty, and guests. The activities of SSA primarily include teaching and reviewing Swahili in fun and engaging ways. Members are encouraged to continue their study of Swahili through the Less Commonly Taught Languages Center (LCTL).

To learn more about the Swahili Club or become an active member, contact SSA at swahiliassociation@gmail.com.