Back Idioma tumbuka AST Tumbuka Catalan Tumbuka (Sprache) German Tumbuka lingvo Esperanto Idioma tumbuka Spanish زبان تومبوکا Persian Tumbuka Finnish Tumbuka (langue) French Lingua tumbuka Galician Harshen Tumbuka Hausa
| Chitumbuka | |
|---|---|
| Chitumbuka | |
| Native to | Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Ethnicity | Senga (Zambia), Tumbuka, Yombe (Zambia), Phoka (Malawi), Henga, Nenya, Northern Ngoni and Tonga people (Malawi) |
Native speakers | 7.1 million (2024 estimate)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Official status | |
Official language in |  Malawi (from 1942 - 1968) |
Recognised minority language in | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | tum |
| ISO 639-3 | tum |
| Glottolog | tumb1250 |
N.21[2] | |
| Linguasphere | 99-AUS-wc (+ chi-Kamanga) incl. varieties 99-AUS-wca...-wcl |
Chitumbuka (also known as Senga) is a Bantu language which is spoken primarily in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.[3][4] It is the native and primary language of at least 13 groups of Bantu peoples, namely, the Senga, Tumbuka, Yombe, Phoka, Henga, Balowoka, Fungwe, Hewe, Northern Ngoni, Kamanga and Tonga people (Malawi), with 12 known and studied dialects.[5] The chi- prefix in front of Tumbuka means "the language of", so the language is usually called Chitumbuka even in English publications. In Northern Malawi, Chitumbuka is spoken in all 6 districts of the region, namely, Rumphi, Mzimba (including Mzuzu City), Karonga, Chitipa, Nkhata-Bay, and Monkey Bay.[6] In Central Malawi, it is spoken primarily in 3 districts of Kasungu, Nkhotakota and Ntchisi. In the Eastern Province of Zambia, Chitumbuka is spoken mainly in 5 districts, namely, Lumezi, Chasefu, Lundazi and Chama, with some in Chipangali and Chipata.[7] In Muchinga Province of Zambia, Chitumbuka is spoken in the districts of Isoka, Mafinga and surrounding areas.[8] In Southern Tanzania, it is spoken in Mbeya, Rungwe and Njombe districts that share boundary with Northern Malawi.[9][10][8] In Zimbabwe, Chitumbuka is spoken to the lesser extent in Harare due to migrant labour by over 20,000 people who migrated in early 18th century.
- ^ "Chitumbuka,Citumbuka,Tamboka,Tambuka,Tumboka,Tumbuka to English dictionary ". Lughayangu. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
- ^ Michigan State University African Studies Center information page.
- ^ PeopleGroups.org. "PeopleGroups.org - Tumbuka of Zimbabwe". peoplegroups.org. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ "HISTORY OF THE KAMANGA TRIBE OF LAKE NYASA: A NATIVE ACCOUNT". African Affairs. X (XXXIX): 331–341. 1911-04-01. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a101800. ISSN 0001-9909.
- ^ University of Malawi (2006) Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi.
- ^ "Glottolog 5.1 - Senga". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- ^ a b "Tumbuka | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ Kiso (2012), pp.21ff.
- ^ "Chitumbuka,Citumbuka,Tamboka,Tambuka,Tumboka,Tumbuka to English dictionary ". Lughayangu. Retrieved 2025-02-24.