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Kenyans have been called upon to nurture and celebrate their diversity in culture and languages as a stepping stone to enhance national unity and harmony.
Iraqi Ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Saeed Al-Shakarchi noted that different cultural and linguistic traditions in the country and across the globe should be viewed as an expression of unity in diversity rather than ingredients for divisions and conflict.
This comes as the United Nations expressed concern that half of the world's approximately 6,500 languages will disappear by the end of the century – currently, at least one language is disappearing every 14 days.
The envoy was speaking to dignitaries at a Nairobi hotel during the commemoration of the annual United Nations Arabic Language Day.
The day, which celebrates Arabic as one of UN's six official languages, is part of the UN International Mother Language Day, observed annually to enhance awareness about the need to preserve and nurture many indigenous languages across the globe that face risks of disappearing.
"Our intention consists in the realisation of new kinds of links between people, based on the interaction between people of different cultures and languages.
Mutual respect
"Our cultural and linguistic differences should be an impetus for unity not divisions. We have a lot to learn from each other in a spirit of mutual respect and regard," he said.
UN Office at Nairobi Director General Sahle-Work Zewde said different languages in Kenya and around the globe need to be celebrated as they bring people together around shared values, and give strength to ideas and depth to ambitions, for peace and sustainable development.
"Languages contribute to the beauty of the world because each one enriches that which it names. Our languages are not only tools of communication, they carry values and identities. Linguistic diversity broadens the mind and provides the means to build intercultural and inter-religious dialogue based on genuine mutual understanding," she said.
The day was commemorated by recitations of poetry, display of artistic paintings and calligraphy to showcase the richness of Arabic.
The UN Arabic Day aims to increase awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community.
Arabic is spoken by more than 422 million people in the world as their mother tongue.
