CULTURAL COUNCIL OF THE EMBASSY O THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Aims and Objectives.
The Cultural Council aims to enhance cultural exchange programs, promotion of Iranian Cultural activities (Art and Culture, films, education) and understanding between the friendly states of Kenya and Iran.
Avicenna Iranian Cultural Library
The cultural Council also runs Avicenna Iranian Cultural library, a dynamic library in Nairobi which aims at providing subsidized and useful library services to the Kenyan public. It’s now a major reference library for researchers in various fields of study. In the near future the library intends to introduce mobile services.
Books
The Library has wide ranging titles of books, magazines and periodicals. The books are in four main languages, namely; Persian, Arabic, English and Kiswahili. The subjects covered include, religion, culture, sociology, psychology, economics, management, literature, history, reference books etc.
Audio-Visual
In the Audio-visual section a wide variety of subjects are availed. They include Persian entertainment movies and music, Persian and Arabic lessons, general Islamic lectures, comparative religion and interesting documentaries.
Arabic and Persian language Training Centre.
The training centre offers high quality language studies to the public. The centre currently offers Arabic and Persian languages with highly qualified tutors.
Influence of Persian language on Kiswahili
The Persian words in Kiswahili language may have been adopted due to the social, cultural and commercial influences of the Shiraz on the Swahili communities. The Shirazi may have introduced new items which were foreign to the local people and so the lexical items found their way in to Kiswahili language. The are some of the words believed to have originated from Persia: Kod – Kodi (Tax), Kwurdum - Gurudumu (Wheel), Bandar- Bandari (Port), Darbyn- Darubini (Binoculars), Diricha – Dirisha (Window), Wazir – Waziri (Minister), Amir – Amiri (Commander), Rang – Rangi (Colour).
Apart from Iran, Persian is spoken in the Central Asian Republics and around the Persian Gulf. For instance in Dubai a leading trade port in the world, Persian is widely spoken.
Great Iranian scientists who have had outstanding contribution in the world of science spoke Persian language. Among these may be mentioned the encyclopeadic scientist Biruni, the mathematician and astronomers, Abu Maschar Balkhi, Omar Khayyam and the Physician, Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna) and Razi.
Learning Persian language will open you to a new world of knowledge in all branches of life. Today Persian is taught in almost all leading Universities in the world.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact us:
TEL: (+254) 713836041, +254 20 2241216
Email: iranlib@yahoo.com, iranlib@iranculturalcouncil.co.ke