Language Information

Bemba is the most widely spoken language of Zambia. Its 2 million speakers live mainly in the northeastern part of the country. Bemba is one of the Bantu languages, most closely related to Luba, spoken in neighboring Zaire.

Bemba has 1,850,000 speakers in Zambia and Congo (Kinshasa).Taabwa, with 250,000 speakers in Congo may regarded as a northern dialect of Bemba. Lala and Bisa,with 350,000 speakers and Lamba with 175,000 are more distantly related to Bemba are also spoken in Zambia and Congo (Kinshasa).A third related group is formed by Tonga of Zambia.

Family: Niger-Congo
Subgroup: Benue-Congo
Branch: Bantu

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Translation

The number of languages spoken on the African continent is estimated to be between six and eight hundred. Until more information is available, and until a more precise criterion as to what constitutes a separate language is agreed upon, no exact number can be given. The figures quoted, however, clearly indicate the great linguistic diversity of Africa, particularly that portion which lies south of the Sahara.