Language family

Niger-Congo Peoples

The largest language family of sub-Saharan Africa: Bantu, Kwa, Mande, Gur and more, spanning West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.

119

Member ethnic groups

27

Branches represented

5

World regions spanned

Bantu →44 groups

Ambundu woman from Angola

Ambundu

Angola

Bakossi woman from Bakossi Mountains (Cameroon)

Bakossi

Bakossi Mountains (Cameroon)

Bemba woman from Zambia (Northern, Luapula, and Copperbelt Provinces), Katanga Province (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Bemba

Zambia (Northern, Luapula, and Copperbelt Provinces), Katanga Province (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Bembe woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania

Bembe

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania

Beti woman from Cameroon

Beti

Cameroon

Boa woman from Bas-Uele (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Boa

Bas-Uele (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Budu woman from Wamba Territory (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Budu

Wamba Territory (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Chewa woman from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Chewa

Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Chokwe woman from Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia

Chokwe

Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia

Fang woman from Río Muni (Equatorial Guinea), Gabon

Fang

Río Muni (Equatorial Guinea), Gabon

Ganda woman from Buganda (Uganda)

Ganda

Buganda (Uganda)

Herero woman from Hereroland (Namibia), Angola

Herero

Hereroland (Namibia), Angola

Hutu woman from Rwanda, Burundi, Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Hutu

Rwanda, Burundi, Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Kalanga woman from Zimbabwe, Botswana

Kalanga

Zimbabwe, Botswana

Kamba woman from Ukambani (Kenya)

Kamba

Ukambani (Kenya)

Kikuyu woman from Kenya

Kikuyu

Kenya

Kongo woman from Kongoland (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola)

Kongo

Kongoland (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola)

Konjo woman from Rwenzori Mountains (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda)

Konjo

Rwenzori Mountains (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda)

Lega woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lega

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Luba woman from Lubaland (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Luba

Lubaland (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Luhya woman from Western Province (Kenya)

Luhya

Western Province (Kenya)

Makonde woman from Tanzania, Mueda Plateau (Mozambique)

Makonde

Tanzania, Mueda Plateau (Mozambique)

Makua woman from Mozambiquetra

Makua

Mozambiquetra

Mijikenda woman from Coast Province (Kenya)

Mijikenda

Coast Province (Kenya)

Mongo woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo (Équateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi)

Mongo

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Équateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi)

Mwera woman from Tanzania (Mtwara and Ruvuma Regions)

Mwera

Tanzania (Mtwara and Ruvuma Regions)

Ovambo woman from Ovamboland (Namibia), Angola

Ovambo

Ovamboland (Namibia), Angola

Ovimbundu woman from Angola

Ovimbundu

Angola

Pare woman from Pare Mountains (Tanzania)

Pare

Pare Mountains (Tanzania)

Pedi woman from Limpopo (South Africa)

Pedi

Limpopo (South Africa)

Pende woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pende

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Siddi woman from Pakistan (Baluchistan, Sindh), India (Karnataka, Gujarat, Hyderabad)

Siddi

Pakistan (Baluchistan, Sindh), India (Karnataka, Gujarat, Hyderabad)

Soga woman from Busoga (Uganda)

Soga

Busoga (Uganda)

Sotho woman from Free State (South Africa), Lesotho

Sotho

Free State (South Africa), Lesotho

Sukuma woman from Tanzania

Sukuma

Tanzania

Swahili woman from Swahili coast (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros)

Swahili

Swahili coast (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros)

Swazi woman from Mpumalanga (South Africa), Eswatini

Swazi

Mpumalanga (South Africa), Eswatini

Tsonga woman from Mozambique (Maputo City and Maputo Province, Gaza Province), South Africa (Limpopo, Mpumalanga)

Tsonga

Mozambique (Maputo City and Maputo Province, Gaza Province), South Africa (Limpopo, Mpumalanga)

Tswana woman from Botswana, South Tswanaland (South Africa)

Tswana

Botswana, South Tswanaland (South Africa)

Tutsi woman from Rwanda, Burundi, Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Tutsi

Rwanda, Burundi, Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Venda woman from Vendaland (South Africa)

Venda

Vendaland (South Africa)

Xhosa woman from Xhosaland (South Africa)

Xhosa

Xhosaland (South Africa)

Yao woman from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania (Ruvuma and Mtwara Regions)

Yao

Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania (Ruvuma and Mtwara Regions)

Zulu woman from KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Zulu

KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Mande9 groups

Bambara woman from Mali

Bambara

Mali

Bissa woman from Burkina Faso

Bissa

Burkina Faso

Bozo woman from Mali

Bozo

Mali

Dyula woman from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali

Dyula

Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali

Kpelle woman from Liberia, Guinea

Kpelle

Liberia, Guinea

Mandinka woman from Mali, The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal

Mandinka

Mali, The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal

Mende woman from Sierra Leone (Southern and Eastern Provinces)

Mende

Sierra Leone (Southern and Eastern Provinces)

Soninke woman from Mali

Soninke

Mali

Susu woman from Guinea, Kambia (Sierra Leone)

Susu

Guinea, Kambia (Sierra Leone)

Kwa8 groups

Adjoukrou woman from Dabou (Ivory Coast)

Adjoukrou

Dabou (Ivory Coast)

Aja woman from Benin, Togo

Aja

Benin, Togo

Akan woman from Gold Coast (Ghana)

Akan

Gold Coast (Ghana)

Ewe woman from Togo, Ghana

Ewe

Togo, Ghana

Fon woman from Dahomey (Benin)

Fon

Dahomey (Benin)

Ga-Adangbe woman from Greater Accra (Ghana)

Ga-Adangbe

Greater Accra (Ghana)

Guan woman from Ghana (Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions)

Guan

Ghana (Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions)

Kposo woman from Plateaux (Togo), Ghana

Kposo

Plateaux (Togo), Ghana

Gur7 groups

Bariba woman from Borgu (Benin, Nigeria)

Bariba

Borgu (Benin, Nigeria)

Bwa woman from Burkina Faso, Mali

Bwa

Burkina Faso, Mali

Dagaaba woman from Ghana, Burkina Faso

Dagaaba

Ghana, Burkina Faso

Dagombas woman from Kingdom of Dagbon (Ghana)

Dagombas

Kingdom of Dagbon (Ghana)

Gurma woman from Gurmaland (Burkina Faso, Ghana)

Gurma

Gurmaland (Burkina Faso, Ghana)

Gurunsi woman from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo

Gurunsi

Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo

Mossi woman from Mossiland (Burkina Faso)

Mossi

Mossiland (Burkina Faso)

Edoid5 groups

Afemai woman from Edo State (Nigeria)

Afemai

Edo State (Nigeria)

Edo woman from Edo State (Nigeria)

Edo

Edo State (Nigeria)

Esan woman from Esanland (Nigeria)

Esan

Esanland (Nigeria)

Isoko woman from Isoko region (Nigeria)

Isoko

Isoko region (Nigeria)

Urhobos woman from Delta State (Nigeria)

Urhobos

Delta State (Nigeria)

Cross River5 groups

Anaang woman from Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria)

Anaang

Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria)

Efik woman from Cross River State (Nigeria)

Efik

Cross River State (Nigeria)

Ibibio woman from Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria)

Ibibio

Akwa Ibom State (Nigeria)

Ogoni woman from Ogoniland (Nigeria)

Ogoni

Ogoniland (Nigeria)

Yakö woman from Yakurr Local Government (Nigeria)

Yakö

Yakurr Local Government (Nigeria)

Ubangian4 groups

Banda woman from Central African Republic, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Banda

Central African Republic, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gbaya woman from Central African Republic, Cameroon

Gbaya

Central African Republic, Cameroon

Mbaka woman from Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mbaka

Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ngbandi woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic

Ngbandi

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic

Plateau3 groups

Atyap woman from Kaduna State (Nigeria)

Atyap

Kaduna State (Nigeria)

Berom woman from Plateau State (Nigeria)

Berom

Plateau State (Nigeria)

Tarok woman from Plateau State (Nigeria)

Tarok

Plateau State (Nigeria)

Other Niger-Congo groups23 groups

Bamileke woman from Cameroon (West and Northwest Regions)

Bamileke

Cameroon (West and Northwest Regions)

Bamum woman from West Region (Cameroon)

Bamum

West Region (Cameroon)

Bassa woman from Bassaland (Liberia)

Bassa

Bassaland (Liberia)

Dogon woman from Bandiagara Escarpment (Mali)

Dogon

Bandiagara Escarpment (Mali)

Ebira woman from Kogi State (Nigeria)

Ebira

Kogi State (Nigeria)

Ekoi woman from Nigeria, Cameroon

Ekoi

Nigeria, Cameroon

Gbagyi woman from Nigeria

Gbagyi

Nigeria

Gola woman from Liberia, Sierra Leone

Gola

Liberia, Sierra Leone

Idoma woman from Benue State (Nigeria)

Idoma

Benue State (Nigeria)

Igbo woman from Igboland (Nigeria)

Igbo

Igboland (Nigeria)

Igede woman from Benue State (Nigeria)

Igede

Benue State (Nigeria)

Ijaw woman from Nigeria (Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States)

Ijaw

Nigeria (Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States)

Jukun woman from Wukari (Nigeria)

Jukun

Wukari (Nigeria)

Kru woman from Liberia (Grand Kru and Maryland Counties)

Kru

Liberia (Grand Kru and Maryland Counties)

Kuteb woman from Taraba State (Nigeria)

Kuteb

Taraba State (Nigeria)

Limba woman from Sierra Leone (Bombali and Koinadugu Districts)

Limba

Sierra Leone (Bombali and Koinadugu Districts)

Mambila woman from Mambilla Plateau (Nigeria, Cameroon)

Mambila

Mambilla Plateau (Nigeria, Cameroon)

Mumuye woman from Taraba State (Nigeria)

Mumuye

Taraba State (Nigeria)

Senufo woman from Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso

Senufo

Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso

Tiv woman from Benue State (Nigeria)

Tiv

Benue State (Nigeria)

Tupuri woman from Far North Region (Cameroon), Mayo-Kébbi (Chad)

Tupuri

Far North Region (Cameroon), Mayo-Kébbi (Chad)

Yoruba woman from Yorubaland (Nigeria, Benin, Togo)

Yoruba

Yorubaland (Nigeria, Benin, Togo)

Zande woman from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan

Zande

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan

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