Tumbuka

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A language of Malawi

ISO 639-3
tum
Alternate Names
Chitumbuka, Tamboka, Tambuka, Timbuka, Tombucas, Tumboka
Population

2,200,000 in Malawi (2010 census). Population total all countries: 2,680,000.

Location

Northern Region, west shore of Lake Malawi, south of the Nyakyusa-Ngonde [nyy] and north of the Tonga [tog] and Nyanja [nya] language areas. Also in Zambia.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, N, Tumbuka (N.21)
Dialects

Chikamanga (Henga, Kamanga), Chitumbuka, Fungwe, Hewe (Hewa), Nenya, Nthali, Poka (Chipoka, Phoka), Senga, Wenya, Yombe.

Language Development
Bible: 1957–1980.
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Kandawire and Fulirwa are clans, not dialects. Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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