Dar Es Salaam — WINNERS for creative work of art of Kiswahili language will be honoured by the First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete, on August 6 at Giraffe Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

The prize which is known as 'Tuzo ya Mama Salma' will include the free Kiswahili language festival at Makumbusho area from August 4 to 6. The competition was for composing poem, novel and drama for secondary schools and universities in the country.

It was conducted from August last year and climaxes this month. The Chairperson of the Kiswahili Language Festival (TASIKI) and Lecturer of Open University of Tanzania, Ms Hadija Jilala, said that the competition is aimed at raising power of Kiswahili language within and abroad.

"Our aim is to sensitize people especially youths in creativity and give them confidence of speaking Kiswahili, at the same time contributing to promoting our culture," she said.

She added that they want to promote youth who are able to use Kiswahili freely and properly. "If the Open University is able to give Bachelor of Kiswahili, why should people speak poor Kiswahili language?" she questioned.

The festival at Makumbusho will give opportunity to artistes to show their works including cultural meals, clothes and Kiswahili language books.

Ms Jilala named the winners of poems from secondary schools as Peter Sumuni of Kizwite, Rukwa, Leila Sanga and Hidaya Hassan of Mbezi Beach, Dar es Salaam and Tunu Fadhili of Biafra, Dar es Salaam.

Winners of poems from universities are Ally Khamisi of Muslim University in Morogoro, Haji Mtulia and Kalanje Diji of Open University of Tanzania.

She said that winners of drama from secondary schools are Peter Sumuni of Kizwite and Leila Sanga while from universities are Mariam Safari of Zanzibar University, Modesti Karashani and Manyaza Stella of Open University of Tanzania.

Winners of novels in general are Jeladina Benjamini of Open University, Musoma, Peter Mwanamila of Mbezi Beach and Tupokigwe Abnery of Open University.