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Tumbuka

File:A_Tumbuka_girl_performing_Vimbuza_dance_of_the_Tumbuka_people.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ34138· pop 39· linked from 418 articles

Also known as Tumbuka language, tum, Chitumbuka

Bantu language spoken in Southern and Eastern Africa

Key facts

Native to
Malawi (5,220,860) Zambia (2,100,709) Tanzania (740,211) Zimbabwe (20,607)
Region
Southeast Africa and Southern Africa
Ethnicity
Senga people, Tumbuka , Yombe (Zambia) , Phoka (Malawi) , Henga , Nenya, Northern Ngoni and Tonga people (Malawi)
Native speakers
8.9 million (2024 estimate)
Language family
Niger–Congo ? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu ( Zone N ) Tumbuka
Dialects
Chikamanga (Malawi) Chiphoka (Malawi) Chisenga (Zambia) Chitumbuka (Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe) Chifililwa (Tanzania) Chiyombe (Zambia) Chihewe(Malawi) Chinenya (Malawi, Tanzania) Chinthali (Malawi) Chikandawire (Malawi, Zambia) Chifungwe (Zambia) Chiwenya (Malawi)
Writing system
Latin script Mwangwego script
Official language in
Malawi (from 1942 - 1968)
Recognised minority language in
Malawi Zambia Tanzania Zimbabwe
Iso 639 2
tum
Iso 639 3
tum
Glottolog
tumb1250
Guthrie code
N.21
Linguasphere
99-AUS-wc (+ chi-Kamanga) incl. varieties 99-AUS-wca...-wcl

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Show 6 more facts
Wikimedia language code
tum
native label
Chitumbuka
number of speakers, writers, or signers
7000000
Commons category
Tumbuka language
Sources (6)

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