Luba-Kasai language

Luba-Kasai, also known as Cilubà or Tshilubà,[4] Luba-Lulua,[5][6] is a Bantu language (Zone L) of Central Africa and a national language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside Lingala, Swahili, and Kikongo ya leta.

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013)

Tshiluba
Cilubà[1] (Tshilubà)
Native to	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Kasai Kasai-Occidental Kasai-Oriental
Ethnicity	Baluba-Kasai (Bena-kasai)
Native speakers	(6.3 million Cilubaphones cited 1991)[2]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Luban Luba languages Tshiluba
Dialects	Ciluba-Lubilanji /Cena-Lubilanji (in Mbuji-Mayi, Tshilenge district, and western Gandajika territory) Cena-Lulua (in Kananga, central-northern Lulua district, and eastern Luebo territory) Cikwa-Nyambi (in Northern Kamonia territory & Tshikapa) Cikwa-Luntu (in Dimbelenge territory)
Official status
Official language in	Democratic Republic of Congo (national language)
Language codes
ISO 639-2	`lua`
ISO 639-3	`lua`
Glottolog	`luba1249`
Guthrie code	`L.31`[3]
Location of speakers: Luba-Kasai Luba-Katanga

Pidgin Chiluba
Native to	DR Congo
Native speakers	None
Language family	Luba-based pidgin
Language codes
ISO 639-3	None (`mis`)
Glottolog	None
Guthrie code	`L.30A`[3]

An eastern dialect is spoken by the Luba people of the East Kasai Region and a western dialect by the Lulua people of the West Kasai Region. The total number of speakers was estimated at 6.3 million in 1991.

Within the Zone L Bantu languages, Luba-Kasai is one of a group of languages which form the "Luba" group, together with Kaonde (L40), Kete (L20), Kanyok, Luba-Katanga (KiLuba), Sanga, Zela and Bangubangu. The L20, L30 and L60 languages are also grouped as the Luban languages within Zone L Bantu.

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