Vatsonga | |
|---|---|
 Traditional location of Tsonga people with dialectical differences and before the borders between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini were imposed and the indigenous peoples were forcibly relocated by colonisers. | |
| Total population | |
| 9,470,000 (early 21st-century estimate)[citation needed] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Mozambique | 4,100,000 |
 South Africa | 3,300,000 (2019 population estimate, StatsSA) |
 Zimbabwe | 950,000 |
 Eswatini | 27,000 |
| Languages | |
| Tsonga, Portuguese, English | |
| Religion | |
| African traditional religion, Christianity, also Islam in Mozambique (17%)[citation needed] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Tswa-Ronga people and Nguni people, Ndau, Manyika, and other Shona/Shonic groups | |
| Tsonga | |
|---|---|
| Person | Mutsonga |
| People | Vatsonga |
| Language | Xitsonga |
| Country | Vutsonga |
The Tsonga people (Tsonga: Vatsonga) are a Bantu ethnic group primarily native to Southern Mozambique and South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga). They speak Xitsonga, a Southern Bantu language. A very small number of Tsonga people are also found in Zimbabwe and Northern Eswatini. The Tsonga people of South Africa share some history with the Tsonga people of Southern Mozambique, and have similar cultural practices, but differ in the dialects spoken.