Khwe

A language of Namibia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

“Barakwena” (pej.), “Barakwengo” (pej.), Khoe, Kxoe, Kxoedam, “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Water Bushmen” (pej.), Xun

Population

2,900 in Namibia (2010 LBT). 3,600 in West Caprivi and 400 in East Caprivi. Population total all countries: 6,790.

Location

West Caprivi is core land of Kxoe people by Kxoe and Namibian government; also in East Caprivi. Also in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia.

Language Maps

Angola

Botswana

Namibia

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest

Dialects

||Anikhwe, ||Xo-Kxoe, ||Xom-Kxoe, Buga-Kxoe, Buma-Kxoe. Minor dialect differences within Khwe. Related to ||Ani [hnh], Naro [nhr], and Nama [naq] but is quite distinct from each of these and not mutually intelligible.

Language Use

Vigorous. Many non-Khwe learn Khwe for interaction with Khwe. Positive attitudes. Also use Afrikaans [afr], Tswana [tsn], Pidgin Bantu [fng] and English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%–20%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%–20%. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2010.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Khwe

Writing

Latin script, developed in 2006.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Angola

Language nameKhwe

Population

790 in Angola (2000).

Location

Southeast corner, Huthembo (Wuthembo), northeast of Likuwa; Lukamba (Lukanga) west of Rivungu.

Alternate Names

!Hukwe, Black Bushman, Cazama, Glanda-Khwe, Hukwe, Kxoe, Kxoedam, “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Mbarakwengo” (pej.), Schekere, Vazama, Water Bushmen, Xu, Xuhwe, Xun, Zama

Dialects

Buma-Kxoe.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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Botswana

Language nameKhwe

Population

1,600 in Botswana (2010 LBT). Children and elderly are monolingual.

Location

Northwest District, Gan, Cadikarauwe, Mohembo, Shakawe, Kaputura, |Ao-Kyao, Sikondomboro, Ngarange, Sekanduko, Xongoa, Cauwe, Moxatce, Dungu, Seronga, Beyetca, Gudigoa, Sicokora, Geixa, ||Qom-ca, Tobere, ‡Umbexa, Djaxo, and Kangwara.

Alternate Names

Basarwa, Khoe, Kxoe, “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Water Bushmen” (pej.), Xun

Dialects

Buga-Kxoe (||Ani-Khoe, ||Anikxoe, Boga, Buga-Khwe, Bukakhwe, Gani-Khwe, “River Bushman” (pej.), Tannekwe).

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Negative attitudes.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Buga: 15–29 years 70% Tswana [tsn], 50% English; 30–54 years 40% Tswana, 10% English.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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South Africa

Language nameKhwe

Population

1,200 in South Africa (2010 LBT).

Location

Northern Cape Province, Smithsdrift and Platfontein.

Alternate Names

Barakwena, Barakwengo, Basarwa, Khoe, Kxoe, Mbarakwena, Mbarakwengo, Water Bushmen, Xun

Dialects

||Ani, Kxoedam.

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Other Comments

Refugees from Caprivi, Namibia, since 1991 living in tents.

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Zambia

Language nameKhwe

Population

300 in Zambia (2006 M. Brenzinger).

Location

West, east of Zambezi river, Luzu village area, 6 villages; east of Luzu; Sakulinda village; 250 km northwest, southeast Senanga district, 3 remote settlements: Kashesha ki liwanika, Namafumbwana, and Sanze.

Alternate Names

!Hukwe, Black Bushman, Cazama, Glanda-Khwe, Hukwe, Kxoe, Mbara Kwengo, Mbarakwena, Schekere, Vazama, Water Bushmen, Xu, Xuhwe, Xun, Zama

Dialects

||Xo-Kxoe.

Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Many in Zambia have given up Khwe to speak the language of their partners and parents. Few speak Lozi [loz], the area lingua franca.

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Khwe

A language of Namibia

Also spoken in: