Kalanga people

BaKalanga

Kalanga woman from Botswana
Total population
1.8 million
Regions with significant populations
Zimbabwe	1.1 million[1]
Botswana	700,000[1]
Languages
TjiKalanga, Shona languages ,Xitsonga,TshiVenda language
Religion
African Traditional Religion, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Shona people, Venda people, and Southern Bantu peoples

The Kalanga or BaKalanga are a southern Bantu ethnic group mainly inhabiting Matebeleland in Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, and parts of the Limpopo Province in South Africa.

The BaKalanga of Botswana are the second largest ethnic group in the country, and their Ikalanga language being the second most spoken in the country (most prevalent in the North).

The TjiKalanga language of Zimbabwe is the third most spoken language in the country, however, being recognized as a Western Shona branch of the Shona group of languages. It is likewise used in mass media.

The Kalanga people are a people who have, from the beginning of time always placed a great deal of importance on their totems as well as their clan names. The most notable of these clans are boSungwasha, boMndambeli, boNeswimbo, boNtombo, boKumbudzi, boKadzasha, boPhizha na boNebukhwa. The largest of these clans are the Sungwasha clan as they are found in each & every Kalanga village, district & town in both Botswana & Zimbabwe. They are also known as BaWumbe/ Tjibelu. The following clan would be the Mndambeli people as they are found dominantly in the Boteti District using the Shoko as well as Zhou and Tshuma as their totems as well as the North-East District (Botswana) & Tutume districts venerating the Ghudo or Tembo. The Mndambeli are also found among the Shona people of Zimbabwe, often referred to as Mwendamberi and they are also found among VhaVenda called VhoMudabeli. The Ntombo(otherwise referred to as Baperi) would then follow suit as the third largest clan being found scattered in a number of villages however, often under the leadership of either the Sungwasha or Mndambeli people. They are also found in the area around Plumtree, Zimbabwe town. History goes to state that BoNtombo are believed to be descendants of the Balobedu people found in South Africa who are today a section of the Bapedi tribe. BoKumbudzi and boNebukhwa are found in fewer numbers as they are mostly the ones with the spiritual gifts to communicate with Mwali at Njelele Shrine :It is a gift for the few, as they believe.