* Origins: Swahili developed from a mix of Bantu languages spoken along the Swahili Coast of East Africa, primarily in what is now Tanzania, Kenya, and parts of Uganda.
* Influence of Arabic: Arabic also had a significant influence, contributing vocabulary related to trade, religion, and administration. This was due to the extensive trade networks that existed between Arab traders and the coastal communities.
* Standardization: The language was standardized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the development of written forms and the establishment of formal grammar rules.
* Official language: Swahili is now an official language in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and it is widely spoken in other parts of East Africa.
In summary, Swahili is a Bantu language that evolved through interactions between coastal communities and Arab traders, and it was later standardized and adopted as an official language in several East African countries.