Tumbuka language

Tumbuka or Chitumbuka (also known by other variants such as Senga (Zambia) and other names) is a Bantu language of Central and Southern Africa spoken primarily in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. It is the native and primary language of at least more than 13 groups of peoples, namely, the Senga, Tumbuka, Yombe, Phoka, Henga, Balowoka, Fungwe, Hewe, Northern Ngoni, Kamanga and Tonga people (Malawi), with 12 known and studied dialects. The chi- prefix in front of Tumbuka means "the language of", so the language is usually called Chitumbuka even in English publications. In Northern Malawi, Chitumbuka is spoken in all 6 districts of the region, namely, Rumphi, Mzimba (including Mzuzu City), Karonga, Chitipa, Nkhata-Bay, and Likoma. In Central Malawi, it is spoken primarily in 3 districts of Kasungu, Nkhotakota and Ntchisi. In the Eastern Province of Zambia, Chitumbuka is spoken mainly in 5 districts, namely, Lumezi, Chasefu, Lundazi and Chama, with some in Chipangali and Chipata. In Muchinga Province of Zambia, Chitumbuka is spoken in the districts of Isoka, Mafinga and surrounding areas. In Southern Tanzania, it is spoken in Mbeya, Rungwe and Njombe districts that share boundary with Northern Malawi. In Zimbabwe, Chitumbuka is spoken to the lesser extent in Harare due to migrant labour by over 20,000 people who migrated in early 18th century. In 2024, there were approximately 7.1 million native Chitumbuka speakers from all the 3 countries, excluding speakers from Zimbabwe whose data was not added.