Swahili Culture and Events | Department of Linguistics

Swahili Events Calendar

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Past Events:

May 6th, 2025 - Tamasha Cultural Showcase

Time: May 6th 4pm, 2025

Location: Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center

April 1st 2025 - Swahili Movie Night

Time: April 1st, 2025; 4:00pm

Location: Lucy Ellis Lounge, LCLB

March 31, 2025 - Swahili Cooking Class

Time: March 31, 2025; 3:00pm

Location: Asian-American Cultural Center, 1210 W. Nevada St

December 10, 2024 - Tamasha Cultural Showcase

Time: 4pm

Location: BNAAC, 1212 W. Nevada Street, Urbana IL

November 13, 2024 - Swahili Movie Night

Time: 4pm

Location: Lucy Ellis Lounge

September 25, 2024 - Swahili Movie Night

Time: 4:00pm

Location: Lucy Ellis Lounge

April 10, 2023 - Swahili Cooking Class

Time: 3:00pm

Location: Asian American Cultural Center

Image shows photos of students in a Kenyan cooking class - text is duplicated in event description

February 15, 2023 - Swahili Movie Night

Time: 4:00pm

Location: Lucy Ellis Lounge

Poster for Swahili Movie Night on 02/15/2023 in Lucy Ellis Room 4PM-5PM. Movie title: Ripple of Tears. Image shows a portrait of a man against a dark background. Synopsis: "Erick's brother who is a doctor is killed together with his wife. This leaves their young daughter, Liz (Smiles), under the care of his uncle, Erick. What follows is a dramatic turn of events that no one would have anticipated."

Past Talks/Information Sessions:

Poster with photos of Anisa Chatman and Kia Southerland. Poster text duplicated in event description

The Beauty and Complexity of Kenyan Culture: Perspective from ACP Scholars

Location: Lucy Ellis Room in LCLB (1st floor)

Time: 4 PM to 5 PM

Anisa Chatman: My name is Anisa Chatman. I am a second-year student from Champaign. I am majoring in Learning and Education Studies. I was awarded the African Connections Program (ACP) scholarship in the 2022/2023 academic year. As an ACP scholar, I learned Swahili for one semester before participating in a two-week study abroad program in Nairobi, Kenya. The experience gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with Kenyans from diverse cultural backgrounds, learn about their cultures and their history. I am very excited to share my cultural experience with the C-U community!

Kia Southerland: My name is Kia Southerland, a sophomore studying Business Management with a minor concentration in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism. I am a participant in the Africa Connections Program (ACP). As an ACP scholar, I studied abroad in Kenya during the winter intersession. Being able to explore Kenya and to learn about its history and culture firsthand was incredible. My experiences challenged my narrow perception of the African continent. In sharing my experience, I hope I'll have served the ambassadorial role of promoting the much-misunderstood African countries.

Poster with photos of a city at dusk and photos showcasing Kenyan people and architecture

Culture, History, and Development in Kenya

Interested in learning about Kenya's rich social and cultural history?

This program delves into the influence of global and Swahili culture of Kenyan communities, the role of tourism in the country's development, incorporating interactive excursions that expose you to urban and rural juxtapositions and intersections of environment, local communities and the economy.

The program includes:

A unique, 3-course learning sequence
Language study
On-campus preparatory course
2 weeks in Kenya
Urban and Rural Excursions
Community Internship

This is a Winter Short-term program, lead by Faculty.

Housing: dormitory, hotel
Language of Instruction: English, Swahili
Language requirement: 200-level Swahili
Funds available for travel and accommodation costs!

For more information, visit this page or contact Kate Abney (kabney AT Illinois DOT edu)