Vinold Mkenda

Vinold John Mkenda is a Swahili language instructor and cultural educator from Tanzania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education (History and Swahili) from the University of Dar es Salaam, a Master of Science in Governance and Leadership from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), and a Master of Arts in Swahili from Tumaini University Makumira (Tanzania). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Swahili Studies at the University of Dodoma (Tanzania), focusing on the role of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning Kiswahili as a foreign language.

Since 2017, he has been teaching Kiswahili to international students and coordinating study abroad programs at the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS TCDC) in Arusha, Tanzania. He has also worked with the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC) through the Sustainable Environment Management Action (SEMA) as a freelance Swahili teacher for foreigners.

His academic and professional work centers on teaching Kiswahili as a foreign language and promoting East African culture through immersive experiences such as market excursions, cooking classes, coffee tours, and language partner programs.

Vinold’s achievements include designing interactive Swahili curricula, training international volunteers, and leading cultural orientation programs for students from the United States, Europe, and Asia. His doctoral research further reflects his commitment to exploring innovative methods and technologies to advance Kiswahili language education globally.

Beyond academia, Vinold enjoys humor, social gatherings, and good food. He is especially fond of nyama choma (BBQ), with a particular weakness for well-grilled goat ribs, often enjoyed in the company of friends while engaging in lively conversations on a wide range of topics.