Abstract:
In this paper I examine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
that use the lingua franca Kiswahili and for what purposes.
First is a description of what a lingua franca is followed by
a brief history of the lingua franca Kiswahili. I then analyse
the general and specific roles of the lingua franca in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Five distinct roles have been identified:
Kiswahili for detribalisation and class formation, political
participation, secularisation and Kiswahili in science and
technology (Safari, 1980).
