Luhya languages

Luhya languages

language
name=oLuLuhya
familycolor=Niger-Congo
states=Kenya, Uganda
region=East Africa
speakers=4,600,000
fam2=Atlantic-Congo
fam3=Volta-Congo
fam4=Benue-Congo
fam5=Bantoid
fam6=Southern
fam7=Narrow Bantu
fam8=Central
fam9=Masaba-Luyia
fam10=Luyia
iso1=-|iso2=bnt

Luhya (also Luyia, Luhia) is a group of Bantu languages spoken in the western part of Kenya by the Luhya people residing between Lake Victoria, Uganda and Mount Elgon. The Luhya area extends into Uganda, where closely related languages like Masaba and Nyole are found.

Kenya is divided into 8 provinces. The Luhya traditionally occupied Western province, as well as the Rift Valley province areas around Kitale. The Luhya number about 6,000,000 currently in Kenya alone though can be close to 10,000,000 together with their Uganda and Tanzania counterparts. The languages of the Luhya are similar in structure but are different from one another to the extent that none of them has been designated as the central dialect. Some of the sub-tribes have similarities to the Baganda tribe of Uganda with some having words from the neighbouring tribes like the Luo and Kalenjin. There are Bible translations in the Maragoli, Wanga and Bukusu dialects.


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