Longtime readers of this blog may recall my Translation Project, an effort to translate the phrase “Space Elevator” into as many languages as possible. Before the blog went into hibernation, I had gathered 30 translations—spanning both real and constructed languages—with help from several readers. You can view the current list by clicking on the Translation Project tab near the top of the blog.

Another familiar feature was my “Weekend Walkabout,” a (mostly) weekly post exploring space elevator-related items around the world. I’m pleased to reintroduce both, combining them starting this week. Each week, I’ll add a new translation to the Translation Project and discuss it (among other topics) in my Weekly Walkabout posts. And without further ado…

Translation of the Week: Swahili – Lifti ya Anga

This week, I’m adding Swahili, spoken by over 100 million people across East Africa, to our space elevator translations. The term Lifti ya Anga (“elevator of space”) captures the dream of ascending to the cosmos. It’s particularly fitting since Swahili is chiefly spoken in Eastern Africa, a region transected by the equator—the ideal location for a space elevator’s Earth Port due to Earth’s rotational forces. Cities like Nairobi could be prime candidates for a future spaceport hub, though challenges like regional security concerns would need to be addressed. Pronunciation: “LEE-f-tee yah AH-ng-ah” (Tips: Emphasize the “LEE” and “AH” sounds, and keep the “ng” soft, like in “sing,” not “finger.”)

To celebrate, I’ve created a kanga-inspired graphic—a traditional Swahili fabric often adorned with wise proverbs. Our space-elevator-themed proverb, “Kupanda nyota, ngazi kwanza” (“To climb the stars, a ladder first”), reflects the space elevator’s role as humanity’s ladder to the stars. The kanga features a baobab tree (Swahili: mbuyu, pronounced “mm-BOO-yoo”) with a tether rising from it and surrounded by baobab flowers. I know I’ll never win any graphic design awards, but I hope I get at least a passing mark for effort…

Shifting gears to Japan, the Oita Space Hike 2024 event last October caught my attention for its space elevator tie-in. Held on October 12–13 at J:COM Horuto Hall in Oita, this space education event—organized by Oita Prefecture and Oita Asahi Broadcasting (OAB)—aimed to inspire young people with hands-on space activities. One of its experience booths featured a Space Elevator Climber Programming Experience, where students programmed a simulated climber to navigate a tether, addressing real-world challenges like speed and stability. This kind of engagement is crucial for nurturing the next generation of space elevator innovators, especially in Japan, a hub for space elevator research with initiatives like Obayashi Corporation’s 2050 vision. I’ve reached out to my old acquaintance Shuichi Ohno from my JSEA days to see if he can share more about this event—stay tuned for updates!

And that’s a wrap for this week’s Weekend Walkabout!