To move to the next level, the whole of Africa should embrace Kiswahili

Traders selling fresh produce at Chebole Trading Center along the Kaplong-Narok highway.[Sammy Omingo, Standard]

I recently undertook a road journey on an overland truck, travelling from Nairobi through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and finally South Africa. It was not merely a physical crossing of borders, but a rare opportunity to observe the continent from the ground, the roads, the markets, the bus stops and the informal trading centres where Africa's real economy lives.

Across these countries, one truth stood out: African people share an indefatigable spirit. From Dodoma to Harare, from Blantyre to Gaborone, people rise early, work long hours and trade relentlessly despite inflation, unemployment, weak currencies and infrastructure gaps.