Swahili is a widespread language of East Africa, spoken by over 100 million people. It is the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is also spoken in parts of Somalia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zambia. SWAHILI is a Bantu language, and is closely related to other Bantu languages such as Kikuyu, Chaga, and Kamba. It is also heavily influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Portuguese.