Luhya (; also Luyia, Oluluyia, Luhia or Luhiya) is a
Bantu language
The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu language, Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀), or Ntu languages are a language family of about 600 languages of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern, East Africa, Eastern and Southeast Africa, South ...
of
western Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
.
Dialects
The various
Luhya tribes speak several related languages and dialects, though some of them are no closer to each other than they are to neighboring non-Luhya languages. For example, the
Bukusu people are ethnically Luhya, but the
Bukusu dialect is a variety of
Masaba. (See
Luhya people for details.) However, there is a core of
mutually intelligible dialects that comprise Luhya proper:
*Wanga
*Tsotso
*Marama
*Kisa
*Kabras
*East Nyala
All Luhya subtribes
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Banyala
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Bukusu
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Gisu people
The Gisu people, or ''Bamasaba'' people of Elgon, are a Bantu peoples, Bantu tribe and Bantu-speaking ethnic group of the Masaba people in eastern Uganda, closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya. Bamasaba live mainly in the Mbale District of ...
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Idakho
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Isukha
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Kabras
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Khayo
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Kisa tribe
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Marachi
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Maragoli
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Marama
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Masaaba
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Nyole
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Samia
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Tachoni
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Tiriki
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Tsotso
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Wanga
Comparison
A comparison between two dialects of Luhya proper, and to two other Bantu languages spoken by the Luhya:
Comparison to Bantu
Phonology
The following is the phonology of the Luwanga dialect:
Vowels
Consonants
External links
Eshitabo Eshiokhulaama nende Tsisakalamendo nende Akebiima Bindi Bieikanisa1967 Anglican liturgical text digitized by Richard Mammana
References
Musimbi Kanyoro (1989), "The Abaluyia of Kenya; one people, one language: What can be learned from the Luyia project": ''The Abaluyia of Western Kenya.'' (p. 27).Wanga-English Dictionary
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