The Rufiji–Ruvuma languages are a group of
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a large family of languages spoken by the Bantu people of Central, Southern, Eastern africa and Southeast Africa. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages.
T ...
established by Gloria Waite (1979) and subsequent researchers: N10 (less
Manda), P10 (Ngindo moved to N10), P20.
The languages, or clusters, along with their
Guthrie identifications are:
*Ruvuma (P20):
**
Yao–
Mwera
**Makonde:
Makonde–
Machinga,
Mabiha
*Mbinga
**Ruhuhu (N10):
Matengo,
Mpoto The Mpoto are an ethnic and linguistic group based in the Mbinga District of Ruvuma Region in southern Tanzania, along the northeast shore of Lake Malawi. In 1977 the Mpoto population was estimated to number 80,00
Mpoto, or several variations ...
**Matandu (P10):
Matumbi,
Ndengereko
The Ndengereko are an ethnic and linguistic group from southern Pwani Region, Tanzania. Their homeland is north of the Rufiji River in parts of Mkuranga, Kisarawe and Rufiji Rufiji may refer to:
* Rufiji Delta, a region in Tanzania
* Rufiji Dis ...
(Rufiji)
**Lwegu:
Ngindo (P10),
Ndendeule,
Ndwewe (N10)
*Songea (N10):
Ngoni
Among the Guthrie languages not specifically classified are
Nindi (N10, said to be close to Ndendeule); and
Tonga of Malawi (N10).
Nurse moves Manda to
Bena–Kinga, but Ehret keeps it here.
Notes
{{Bantu-lang-stub