Languages of Rwanda

Sign in Kinyarwanda and English in Kigali

Official| Kinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili
Vernacular| Kinyarwanda
Minority| Mashi
Foreign| English, African French
Signed| Rwandan Sign Language
Keyboard layout|

QWERTY

An anti-AIDS campaign poster in English, Rwanda

Kinyarwanda is the national language of Rwanda,[1] and the first language of almost the entire population of the country. It is one of the country's official languages alongside French,[2] English,[3] and Swahili.[4]

French had been the language of administration from the country's time under Belgian administration, between the World War I and independence in 1962. Since the 1994 genocide, the complications of relations with successive French governments and the return of numerous Tutsi refugees from anglophone Uganda meant an increase in the use of English by a higher proportion of the population and administration.

In 2008, the government changed the medium of education from French to English.[5] By 2018 the Rwandan government had introduced French as a foreign language class at the primary school level, and French was still widely used by members of the upper classes. A Rwandan historian, Antoine Mugesera, stated that French is still used among the educated, but Kinyarwanda is used for matters relating to simple topics and messages.[6] English is now considered as the primary language among other foreign languages.

Swahili is used by some people, in commerce, and is taught as a subject in schools.[7]

French was spoken by a bit under 6% of the population according to the 2012 census and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.[8] English was reported to be spoken by 15% of the population in 2009, though the same report found the proportion of French-speakers to be 68%.[9] Swahili is spoken by fewer than 1%.[10]

Inhabitants of Rwanda's Nkombo Island speak Mashi, a language closely related to Kinyarwanda.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ LECLERC, Jacques. «Rwanda» dans L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde, Québec, CEFAN, Université Laval, 24 Dec. 2015 (accessed 29 August 2016)
2. ^ "Rwanda: MPs Approve Law Making Kiswahili Official Language". All Africa. All Africa. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
3. ^ "English To Become Official Language In Rwanda". Retrieved 2023-07-10.
4. ^ "Kiswahili adopted as Rwanda's fourth official language". 10 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
5. ^ "Rwanda". 15 August 2013.
6. ^ "Rwanda reconsiders role of snubbed French language". Agence France Presse at the Daily Monitor. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
7. ^ "Aménagement linguistique," Rwanda
8. ^ La langue française dans le monde (2022)
9. ^ The Benefits of the English Language for Individuals and Societies: Quantitative Indicators from Cameroon, Nigeria, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Pakistan
10. ^ Ethnologue report for Rwanda
11. ^ Nakayima, Lillian (23 June 2010). "Nkombo Island's Hope for the Future". The New Times. Kigali. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Linguistic situation of Rwanda (in French)
* Ntakirutimana, Évariste (National University of Rwanda). "LE FRANÇAIS AU RWANDA" (Archive). University of Nice.
* Steflja, Isabela. "The Costs and Consequences of Rwanda’s Shift in Language Policy" (Archive). Africa Initiative. 31 May 2012.
* McGreal, Chris. "Why Rwanda said adieu to French" (Archive). The Guardian. Friday 16 January 2009.

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Languages of Rwanda

Official|

* Kinyarwanda
* English
* French
* Swahili

Minority|

Mashi

Immigrant|

* English
* French
* Punjabi
* Spanish
* German
* Italian
* Hindi
* Hebrew
* Arabic
* Chinese
* Portuguese
* Japanese
* Romani
* Russian
* Danish
* Dutch

Sign|

* Rwandan Sign Language

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Rwanda articles

History|

* Timeline
* Origins of Hutu, Tutsi and Twa
* Kingdom of Rwanda
* kings
* German East Africa
* Ruanda-Urundi
* Colonial residents
* Ruzagayura famine
* Rwandan Revolution
* Coup of Gitarama
* Bugesera invasion
* Rwandan Civil War
* Rwandan genocide
* Initial events
* Second Congo War

Geography|

* Cities
* Ecoregions
* Lakes
* National parks
* Volcanoes
* Wildlife

Politics|

* Censorship
* Constitution
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Human rights
* LGBT rights
* Law enforcement
* Military
* Chief of Defence Staff
* Parliament
* Senate
* Chamber of Deputies
* Decentralization
* Political parties
* President
* Vice President
* Prime Minister

Economy|

* National Bank
* Franc (currency)
* Mining
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* Tourism
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Society|

* Demographics
* Education
* Ethnic groups
* Gender equality
* Health
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* Human trafficking
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Culture|

* Cuisine
* Flag
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* Index

* Category

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Languages of Africa

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
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* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
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* Lesotho
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* Madagascar
* Malawi
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* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
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* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
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* Togo
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* Uganda
* Zambia
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States with limited
recognition

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Dependencies and
other territories

* Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain)
* Madeira (Portugal)
* Mayotte / Réunion (France)
* Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)
* Western Sahara

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