More than 300 delegates, including language experts, policymakers and Kiswahili enthusiasts from the eight member-states of the East African Community (EAC), are expected to gather in Bujumbura, Burundi, next month for celebrations marking World Kiswahili Language Day and the third East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) conference, an official announced on Saturday.

Caroline Asiimwe, executive secretary of the EAKC, said the event will take place from July 5 to 7, bringing together participants from across the region to discuss the growing role of Kiswahili in regional integration, trade, education and technological advancement.

The celebrations will begin with the third EAKC conference and culminate in the commemoration of World Kiswahili Language Day on July 7, according to Asiimwe.

Held biennially, the conference provides an opportunity for member states to review progress in promoting and developing Kiswahili across the region, she said.

Asiimwe stressed that the event has become an important platform for showcasing the social and economic opportunities arising from the increasing use of Kiswahili within the EAC bloc, adding that the language continues to gain international recognition.

This year’s conference will focus on AI and multilingualism, exploring how emerging technologies can support the growth and use of Kiswahili in the digital era.

The event aims to strengthen cultural ties while positioning Kiswahili as a language of knowledge and economic transformation within the region, Asiimwe noted.

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report