Persistent Struggle of Kiswahili Versus English in Zanzibar’s Language Policy

Zanzibar has always been both multilingual and multicultural even before colonial era. Despite about a half dozen languages being used in Zanzibar since that time, Kiswahili has dominated and overshadowed other languages in terms of use. As many Zanzibaris are Muslims, and Arabic language is the one which is largely used in Islamic practices, Kiswahili was written using the Arabic script. Many Zanzibaris were reluctant to attend formal schools because they were equated to Christianity. Evidence shows that the language situation of Zanzibar has changed drastically from colonial era to the current. During the colonial era languages such as Gujarati, Arabic, English and Kiswahili were used in several newspapers in Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland in general whereas currently the only language used by newspaper in Zanzibar is Kiswahili, and for Tanzania Mainland Kiswahili and English are used. Currently Zanzibar opts for dual official language in that both Kiswahili and English are stipulated to enjoy official status. However, Kiswahili, the language which is used by people from all walks of life is largely used in administration, politics, legal matters and mass media. In the education domain, Kiswahili is used alongside English, while for Islamic religious practices, Kiswahili is used concurrently with Arabic.