Sankofa: The Importance of Adding KiUbuntu to Africana Studies Programs

• In Event: Situating Academic Strategies in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper argues for the inclusion of KiUbuntu (currently known as KiSwahili) in Africana Studies programs as a vital step toward reclaiming WanaUbuntu (the children of Ubuntu/Afrikans) cultural and linguistic identity, promoting Pan-Afrikanism, and fostering global solidarity among WanaUbuntu (Black/Afrikan People). KiUbuntu, a Bantu language created by the convergence of diverse Nsi ya Ubuntu (the land of Ubuntu/Afrikan) linguistic traditions, has long been misrepresented as an Arabic language, with its name "Swahili," derived from the Arabic word Sawahil, meaning "coast." This paper challenges such misconceptions and advocates for renaming the language, KiUbuntu, in the spirit of Kujichagulia (self-determination), to reflect its authentic Nsi Ya Ubuntu roots. Grounded in the theme of "Sankofa: Celebrating Solidarity, Power, and Pan-Africanism in the 21st Century," the paper situates KiUbuntu as a tool for advancing WanaUbuntu unity, reclaiming narratives, and resisting neo-colonialism and imperialism.

Author

• Nduku Mulumba, Mbôngi Ya Ubuntu