Luba-Katanga language

Kiluba
Kiluba
Luba-Katanga
Kiluba
Native to	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Katanga Province
Native speakers	(1,505,000 cited 1991)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Luban Luba languages Kiluba; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-1	lu
ISO 639-2	lub
ISO 639-3	lub
Glottolog	luba1250
Guthrie code	L.33
	Location of speakers: Luba-Kasai Luba-Katanga

Luba-Katanga, also known as Luba-Shaba and Kiluba (Luba-Katanga: Kiluba), is a Bantu language (Zone L) of Central Africa. It is spoken mostly in the south-east area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Luba people.^[3]

Kiluba is spoken in the area around Kabongo, Kamina, Luena, Lubudi, Malemba Nkulu, Mulongo, Kabalo and Kaniama, mostly in Katanga. Some 500 years ago or more, the Luba Kasai left Katanga and settled in the Kasai; since then, Luba Kasai (Chiluba) has evolved until it is no longer mutually intelligible with Luba Katanga.

Most Bantu languages are closer to Luba-Katanga rather than Luba-Kasai because the Luba-Kasai language is newer, while Luba-Katanga is older.

Luba-Katanga alphabet

Luba-Katanga has 22 letters, 5 vowels and 17 consonants.

Vowels: A E I O U

Consonants: B D F G H J K L M N P S T V W Y Z

^ Kiluba at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
^ Batibo, Herman (January 2005). Language Decline and Death in Africa. Multilingual Matters. p. 74. ISBN 1-85359-808-9.

[e17-1] Kiluba at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)

[Guthrie-2] Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online

[3] Batibo, Herman (January 2005). Language Decline and Death in Africa. Multilingual Matters. p. 74. ISBN 1-85359-808-9.

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