| Kiluba | |
|---|---|
| Luba-Katanga | |
| Kiluba | |
| Native to | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Region | Katanga Province |
Native speakers | (1,505,000 cited 1991)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | lu |
| ISO 639-2 | lub |
| ISO 639-3 | lub |
| Glottolog | luba1250 |
L.33[2] | |
 Location of speakers:
Luba-Katanga | |
Luba-Katanga, also known as Luba-Shaba and Kiluba (Luba-Katanga: Kiluba), is a Bantu language (Zone L) of Central Africa. It is spoken mostly in the south-east area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Luba people.[3]
Kiluba is spoken in the area around Kabongo, Kamina, Luena, Lubudi, Malemba Nkulu, Mulongo, Kabalo and Kaniama, mostly in Katanga. Some 500 years ago or more, the Luba Kasai left Katanga and settled in the Kasai; since then, Luba Kasai (Tshiluba) has evolved until it is no longer mutually intelligible with Luba Katanga.
Most Bantu languages are closer to Luba-Katanga rather than Luba-Kasai because the Luba-Kasai language is newer, while Luba-Katanga is older.
- ^ Kiluba at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
- ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
- ^ Batibo, Herman (January 2005). Language Decline and Death in Africa. Multilingual Matters. p. 74. ISBN 1-85359-808-9.
