Bushi (region)

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Bushi is mainly a traditional region and an African ethnic group in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire); mainly located in the South Kivu province. It lies along the Mitumba Mountains and includes the administrative territories of Walungu, Kabare, Kalehe, Mwenga, Idjwi and Uvira surrounding Bukavu, which is its main city. There are about 7-12 million inhabitants in the region speaking the Mashi or Shi language. The Bushi is also a kingdom that is organized into many localities or sub-chiefdoms.

The Shi people, also known as Bashi, Banyabungo or Banyindu; are exactly close neighbours of Lega; Fuliiro, Bavira and Bembe people in the southern part of South Kivu; the Banyarwanda/Barundi people in the neighboring countries, and are close neighbours of Bahunde and Banyanga people who are located in the North Kivu province.

The inhabitants of Bushi are the Shi people (Shi: Bashi, singular: Mushi)^[1] and their language is the Shi language (Mashi), a Central (Zone J) Bantu language. People are mainly farmers in this chiefdom; but there are more and more distinguished businessmen; politicians and other intellectuals from this important ethnic group of the South-Kivu region. The Mwami Desire Kabare is the King of these people.