Mwanga, or Namwanga (Nyamwanga), 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 ...
spoken by the
Mwanga people in the
Muchinga Province
Muchinga Province is one of the ten provinces of Zambia. It is located in the northeast of the country and borders with Tanzania in the north, Malawi in the east, Eastern Province in the south, Central Province in the southwest, Luapula Provinc ...
of
Zambia
Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa. It is typically referred to being in South-Central Africa or Southern Africa. It is bor ...
(mainly in the districts of
Isoka and
Nakonde) and in
Mbeya Region
Mbeya Region (''Mkoa wa Mbeya'' in Swahili language, Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative Regions of Tanzania, regions. The region covers an area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of G ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
. The 2010 Zambian census found 140,000 speakers. The current number in Tanzania is unknown; ''
Ethnologue
''Ethnologue: Languages of the World'' is an annual reference publication in print and online that provides statistics and other information on the living languages of the world. It is the world's most comprehensive catalogue of languages. It w ...
'' cites a figure from 1987 of 87,000.
[
There are also some speakers of Namwanga in the north-west part of ]Chitipa District
Chitipa District is the northernmost district in the Northern Region of Malawi. The capital is Chitipa (formerly known as Fort Hill). The district covers an area of 4,288 km2, and has a population of 234,927. The major and common language s ...
in northern Malawi
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over and ...
.University of Malawi Language Mapping Survey (2006)
p. 29.
The Namwanga language is similar to the
Mambwe language spoken by the
Mambwe people
The Mambwe are an ethnic group from Mbala and Senga Hill district of Northeastern Zambia and Kalambo District of Rukwa Region, Tanzania.
In 1987 the Mambwe population in Tanzania was estimated to number 63,00 The number of Mambwe in Zambia has ...
of
Mbala and
Mpulungu
Mpulungu is a town in the Northern Province of Zambia, at the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika.Camerapix: "Spectrum Guide to Zambia." Camerapix International Publishing, Nairobi, 1996.
From Mpulungu, boats reach DR Congo, Tanzania and Burundi. Th ...
districts and the
Lungu people
The Lungu are a tribe of two Bantu ethnic groups i.e. the Lungu of Chief Tafuna (Mambwe-Lungu) and the Lungu of Chief Mukupa Kaoma (Malaila-Lungu). The Mambwe Lungu, who are the main focus of this article are located primarily on the southwestern ...
also found in Isoka. Other similar smaller peoples include the
Lambyas, the
Nyikas and the
Wandyas.
Alphabet
Nyamwanga has 5 vowels and 17 consonants, a total of 22 letters
Vowels: A E I O U
Consonants: B D F G H J K L M N P S SH T V W Y Z
Sample text
*''Amulandu ci wuno Yesu atalesizye umuntu wino wafumyanga iviwa mwi zina lyakwe nanti aca kuti atalinji pa wasambilizi wakwe?''
* Why did Jesus not prevent a man from expelling demons, even though the man was not following him?
* Mwalinda tata?
* Good afternoon Father.
Namwanga Names
* Suwilanji
* Salifyanji
* Alinani
* Alinaswe
* Njavwa
* Lenganji
* Leukanji
* Nkusechela
* Lukundo
* Kundananji
* Vwambanji
* Vilezu
* Mukatakulima
Favourite foods
* Beans and Okra commonly known as Kumbi
* Cassava
* Millet
See also
*
Languages of Zambia
Zambia has several major indigenous languages, all members of the Bantu languages, Bantu family, as well as Khwedam language, Khwedam, Zambian Sign Language, several immigrant languages and the pidgins Settla and Fanagalo. English language, Eng ...
References
{{Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)
Rukwa languages
Languages of Tanzania
Languages of Zambia
Languages of Malawi