Tumbuka language

Niger-Congo language spoken in Southern and Eastern Africa TumbukaChitumbukaA Tumbuka young woman from Zambia performing Vimbuza dance of the Tumbuka people in Vietnam.Native toMalawi (5,220,860)Zambia (2,100,709)Tanzania (740,211)Zimbabwe (20,607)RegionSoutheast Africa and Southern AfricaEthnicitySenga people, Tumbuka, Yombe (Zambia), Phoka (Malawi), Henga, Nenya, Northern Ngoni and Tonga people (Malawi)Native speakers8.9 million (2024 estimate)Language familyNiger–Congo? Atlantic–CongoVolta-CongoBenue–CongoBantoidSouthern BantoidBantu (Zone N)TumbukaDialects Chikamanga (Malawi) Chiphoka (Malawi) Chisenga (Zambia) Chitumbuka (Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe) Chifililwa (Tanzania) Chiyombe (Zambia) Chihewe(Malawi) Chinenya (Malawi, Tanzania) Chinthali (Malawi) Chikandawire (Malawi, Zambia) Chifungwe (Zambia) Chiwenya (Malawi) Writing system Latin script Mwangwego script Official statusOfficial language in Malawi (from 1942 - 1968)Recognised minoritylanguage in Malawi Zambia Tanzania Zimbabwe Language codesISO 639-2tumISO 639-3tumGlottologtumb1250Guthrie codeN.21Linguasphere99-AUS-wc (+ chi-Kamanga) incl. varieties 99-AUS-wca...-wcl This article is part of a series on theHi