Ndebele
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Language Information
Ndebele is spoken in two separate regions of southern Africa. Northern Ndebele (isiNdebele, also called Sindebele or Tebele) is spoken in western and southwestern Zimbabwe, around Bulawayo, and in parts of Botswana. Southern Ndebele is spoken in South Africa, mainly in Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces.
Both are Bantu languages of the Nguni group, related to Zulu and Xhosa. Northern Ndebele arose in the 1820s and 1830s, when Mzilikazi, a former general of the Zulu king Shaka, led his followers north and founded the Ndebele kingdom in what is now Zimbabwe; it remains very close to Zulu. Northern Ndebele is an official language of Zimbabwe, spoken by about 1.5 million people, and Southern Ndebele is one of South Africa's official languages.
Both are Bantu languages of the Nguni group, related to Zulu and Xhosa. Northern Ndebele arose in the 1820s and 1830s, when Mzilikazi, a former general of the Zulu king Shaka, led his followers north and founded the Ndebele kingdom in what is now Zimbabwe; it remains very close to Zulu. Northern Ndebele is an official language of Zimbabwe, spoken by about 1.5 million people, and Southern Ndebele is one of South Africa's official languages.
Ndebele is spoken/used in the following countries:
- Language Family
- Niger-Congo
- Subgroup
- Benue-Congo
- Branch
- Bantu
- Subbranch
- Nguni
Ndebele Language Sample
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1
Ndebele
Abantu bonke bazalwa bekhululekile njalo belingana kumalungelo abo. Balesipho sikanembeza, ngakho bamele baphathane ngomoya otshengisa ubuhlobo lobunye.English translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Source: OHCHR translations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights