Sumbwa language


Sumbwa is an Eastern Bantu language, classified as F.23 by Malcolm Guthrie. According to this classification, the language is assumed to be related to Kinyamwezi, Kisukuma, Kinilamba, Kirimi and other languages of Zone F suggested that the language has had much influence from neighbouring languages. Quick inspection of the vocabulary shows that Sisumbwa appears to be closer to Nyamwezi than to any other language in the group. In terms of contacts, Sisumbwa speakers say that for a long time they have been in contact with speakers of Kisubi, Kirongo and Kizinza and Kiha, in addition to Kinyamwezi and Kisukuma.
The language is mainly spoken in Bukombe, Mbogwe and Geita districts ; Kahama district ; Biharamulo district and Urambo district – Tabora Region. Given the 2002 Census figures and population increases since then, the number of Sisumbwa speakers may be estimated as follows: Bukombe: 137,115; Kahama: 100,377; Geita: 79,490; Biharamulo: 4,306; Ilemela: 85; Kishapu: 110; Kwimba: 152; Misungwi: 103; Nzega: 358; Shinyanga : 2,260; Urambo: 36,755; This estimation gives 361,111 Sisumbwa speakers. These are the figures recorded in the Tanzania Language Atlas, and this puts the language at no. 25 out of the 150 Tanzanian languages identified.
Sumbwa is still largely undescribed as there is an old grammar, a trilingual dictionary and description of some components of the morphology.