Research Guide of Selected African Languages: Southern Africa

Tswana 

This is the national language spoken primarily by the Tswana people inhabiting Botswana, particularly concentrated in southwestern regions. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Tswana boys

Khoe Language(s) 

These are languages spoken by the Khoisan people inhabiting Botswana.  It is within the Khoisan family of languages. 

Kalanga 

This is a major language spoken by the BaKalanga people inhabiting Northeastern Botswana.  It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Domboshaba Festival, the heart of the BaKalanga people

Sekgalagadi 

This is a language spoken by the Bakgalagadi people inhabiting Botswana, particularly concentrated in the Kgalagadi District. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Herero 

This is a language spoken by Herero people inhabiting Botswana, particularly concentrated in the Ghanzi district.  It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger- Congo family of languages. 

Women from the Herero Tribe

Ndebele 

This is a language spoken by the Ndebele people inhabiting Northeastern Botswana, particularly concentrated in the North-East District. It is within the Bantu branch od the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Mbukushu 

This is a language spoken by the Mbukushu people inhabiting Botswana, particularly concentrated in the Ngamiland region. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Yeyi 

This is a language spoken by the Yeyi people inhabiting Botswana, particularly concentrated in regions along the Okavango River. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Sources:

Botswana - Semi-arid, Subtropical, Rainfall | Britannica 

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Tswana people 

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Kalanga people 

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Kgalagadi people

Herero alphabet, prounciation and language (omniglot.com) 

Northern Ndebele language (omniglot.com)

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Mbukushu people 

https://dbpedia.org/page/Yeyi_language  

Sotho 

This is a language spoken by the Basotho people inhabiting the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Women wearing Basotho blanket

Zulu 

This is a language spoken by the Zulu people inhabiting Lesotho. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Phuthi 

This is a language spoken by the Phuthi people inhabiting Lesotho, particularly concentrated in the southern regions. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Xhosa 

This is a language spoken by the people inhabiting Lesotho. It is within Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Sources:

Lesotho | Capital, Map, Flag, Population, Language, & People | Britannica 

https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/basotho.html  

https://www.peoplegroups.org/explore/GroupDetails.aspx?peid=15285 

https://dbpedia.org/page/Phuthi_language 

https://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/langx/xhosa.html 

Swati 

This is a language spoken by the people inhabiting South Africa. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Ndebele 

This is a language spoken by the Ndebele people inhabiting South Africa, particularly concentrated in the Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West provinces. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Traditional dress and adornments of the Ndebele

Zulu 

This is a major language spoken by the Zulu people inhabiting South Africa, particularly concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Understanding the Zulu Tribe

Sotho 

This is a major multidialectal language spoken by the Basotho people inhabiting South Africa, particularly concentrated in the Free State, Gauteng and Eastern Cape Provinces. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Xhosa 

This is a major language spoken by the Xhosa people inhabiting South Africa, particularly concentrated in the Eastern Cape Province and Transkei. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

History and some customs of the Xhosa people

Tswana 

This is a language spoken primarily by the Tswana people inhabiting South Africa. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Venda 

This is a language spoken by the Vhavhenda people inhabiting South Africa, particularly concentrated on the North and West of Makhado in the Limpopo Province. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Queen Nethengwe: An ambassador of the Vhavhenda people

Sources:

South Africa - Conservation, Wildlife, Parks | Britannica 

Swati language and alphabet (omniglot.com) 

Southern Ndebele language and alphabet (omniglot.com)

Zulu language and pronunciation (omniglot.com) 

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Basotho people 

Xhosa Language - Dialects & Structure - MustGo 

Tswana language, alphabet and pronunciation (omniglot.com) 

AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Venda people 

SiSwati 

This is a major language spoken by the Swazi people inhabiting Swaziland. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Traditional dance in eSwatini (Swaziland)

Zulu 

This is a language spoken by the Zulu people inhabiting Swaziland. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Xitsonga 

This is a major language spoken by the Tsonga people inhabiting Swaziland, particularly concentrated in the northern regions. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Sources:

Eswatini | Culture, History, & People | Britannica 

https://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/langs/siswati.html 

https://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/langs/siswati.html

https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/tsonga.html 

Ovambo 

This is a major language spoken by the Ovambo people inhabiting Northern Namibia. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Ovambo people performing traditional dance

Kwangali 

This is a language spoken by the Kwangali people inhabiting Namibia, particularly concentrated in the regions along the Kavango River in Namibia. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. 

Heroro 

This is a major language spoken by Herero people inhabiting Central Namibia, particularly concentrated in the Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger- Congo family of languages. 

Khoekhoe 

This is a national language spoken by the Nama and Damara people inhabiting Southern Namibia, particularly concentrated in the Erongo, Kunene, and Otjozondjupa regions. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

The Living Museum of the Damara

Caprivian Language(s) 

These are languages spoken by the Caprivian people inhabiting Northeastern Namibia, particularly concentrated in the Caprivi Strip. It is within the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Sources:

Namibia - Arid, Semi-Arid, Desert | Britannica 

Oshiwambo alphabet, prounciation and language (omniglot.com) 

About: Ovambo language (dbpedia.org) 

https://dbpedia.org/page/Kwangali_language 

Herero alphabet, prounciation and language (omniglot.com) 

Herero | Herero Tribe, Namibia, Genocide | Britannica 

https://www.omniglot.com/writing/khoekhoe.htm 

https://safariworldtours.com/caprivian-tribe-of-namibia