| Population |
6,491,700 in Rwanda, 98.3% (1998). Population total all countries 7,362,800. |
| Region |
Also spoken in Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Uganda. |
| Alternate names |
RUANDA, KINYARWANDA, IKINYARWANDA, ORUNYARWANDA, URUNYARUANDA |
| Dialects |
IGIKIGA (KIGA, TSHIGA), BUFUMBWA, HUTU (LERA, ULULERA, HERA, NDARA, SHOBYO, TSHOGO, NDOGO), RUTWA (TWA). |
| Classification |
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Rwanda-Rundi (J.60). |
| Comments |
Intelligible with Rundi. Hima is an ethnic group speaking Rwanda or Rundi, not a language. Ethnic groups: Hutu 89%, Tutsi 10%, Twa (pygmies, 30,000; 1972 Barrett) 1%. Possibly 75% of the BaTwa killed in the 1994 war. National language. SVO. Christian, traditional religion, Muslim; Twa: traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1954-1993. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Language name |
RWANDA |
| Population |
250,000 possibly in DRC (UBS). |
| Alternate names |
KINYARWANDA, RUANDA |
| Dialects |
BWISHA (KINYABWISHA), MULENGE (KINYAMULENGE), TWA. |
| Comments |
Dialects in DRC may need separate literature. Twa: traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1954-1993. See main entry under Rwanda. |
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| Tanzania |
| Language name |
RWANDA |
| Population |
88,000 in Tanzania (1987). |
| Alternate names |
RUNYARWANDA, RUANA |
| Comments |
Bible 1954-1993. See main entry under Rwanda. |
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| Uganda |
| Language name |
RWANDA |
| Population |
532,692 in Uganda, including 203,030 speakers of Rufumbira, 329,662 Rwanda, 1,394 Twa (1991 census), 5.9% of the population (1972 Ladefoged et al.) |
| Alternate names |
RUNYARWANDA, RUANDA |
| Dialects |
RUFUMBIRA, TWA. |
| Comments |
Rufumbira may be distinct and need separate literature. Widely spoken. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Rufumbira. Literacy campaign. Radio programs. Bible 1954-1993. See main entry under Rwanda. |
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