Indiana University Upgrades Its Swahili Language Program

Swahili is a language spoken by more than 70 million people in Africa. It is one of the official languages of the African Union.

The language is currently offered to both undergraduate and graduate students at Indiana University in Bloomington. But now the university is creating a Swahili Flagship program that aims to produce graduates who are fluent in the language. The new program is a partnership between the university, the federal government, and business groups that believe the U.S. needs students who are fluent in Swahili to compete economically in Africa and to enhance U.S. national security efforts.