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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Uganda > Amba

Amba

A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3: rwm

Population  35,600 in Uganda (2002 census). Population total all countries: 40,100.
Region  Democratic Republic of the Congo border area south of Lake Albert, Beni District, Watalinga and Bawisa subcounties; Ruwenzori Mountains, Bundibugyo District. Also in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Language map  Uganda, reference number 4
Alternate names   Bulebule, Hamba, Humu, Kihumu, Ku-Amba, Kuamba, Lubulebule, Lwamba, Ruwenzori Kibira, Rwamba
Dialects  Kyanzi (Kihyanzi), Suwa (Kusuwa). Similar to Bera [brf], Bila [bip], Komo [kmw], Bhele [bhy]. Lexical similarity: 70% with Bera [brf], 57%–59% with Bila, Kaiku [kkq], Komo, and Bhele, 25% with Nande [nnb], 34% with Talinga-Bwisi [tlj].
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, D, Bira-Huku (D.30)
Language use  Also use Talinga-Bwisi or Nyoro [nyo].
Language development  Literacy campaign in progress.
Comments  Their name for themselves is ‘Kwamba’. Called ‘KiHumu’ in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The people are called ‘Baamba’. Agriculturalists: plantains, millet, maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts, rice, coffee, cotton, cassava; animal husbandry: goats, sheep. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Language name   Amba
Population  4,500 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (1991 SIL).
Region  Nord-Kivu Province, Uganda border area south of Lake Albert, northern Ruwenzori foothills.
Language map  Northern Democratic Republic of Congo
Alternate names  Hambo, Humu, Kihumu, Kuamba, Kwamba, Ruwenzori Kibira, Rwamba
Dialects  Kigumu (Kuamba, Hamba, Lubulebule), Kihyanzi, Kusuwa.
Language use  Many also use Talinga-Bwisi [tlj].
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

WIT, Gert de, editor. 1995. Compendium of survey reports volume 1: Bira-Huku group of Bantu.  Available online

WIT-HASSELAAR, Alie de, author. 1995. "Bira - Huku wordlists."