There are several ways of integrating Africa, and these range from common borders to common currencies. Yet, the cultural integration is often given a side-eye, without recognizing that it is easier to start with the cultural integration and open the other fronts of economic and political integration.

Within this cultural integration is the language factor, the need for the next African generation to speak in a common ‘Africa’ language. One language stands out as the potential unification factor. That language is Swahili. Swahili was formed through a combination of different African languages (majorly the Ntu languages) with the foreign languages (majorly the Arabic language). Today Swahili stands out as Africa’s most spoken language (with over 200 million speakers). Swahili is also among the easiest languages to learn, as its structure was engineered for clarity and speed.

As such, African countries and the people must take a deliberate step in embracing this language that’s already moved miles. Swahili ought to break through in the South African regions, the West and North African regions. The next African generation has an opportunity to build and integrate around a common language structure. And out of this, many other possibilities can arise.

For the countries where Swahili is already spoken, the opportunity is in spreading this language and spreading the culture around this language. It’s in spreading the Swahili songs, movies, foods, the costumes, to mention but a few. With Swahili, Africa will be halfway towards a unified voice. For those who share a language have already agreed on the most crucial aspects of their lives and their fates.

This is the conversation that must be held, and we’ve started it.