Languages of the Zambezi River Basin

The Zambezi basin spans eight southern African countries, hosting remarkable linguistic diversity:

• Bantu Languages (dominant): Shona (Zimbabwe), Nyanja/Chewa (Malawi/Zambia), Tonga (Zambezi Valley), Bemba (Zambia), Lozi (Barotse Floodplain), Luvale, Mbunda.
• Khoisan Languages: KhoeKhoe (Nama), various San languages (Khwe, Juǀ'hoan, !Xóõ) in Kalahari margins.
• Other Niger‑Congo: Sotho, Tswana, Venda (southern fringe).
• Official Languages: English (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi), Portuguese (Mozambique).
• Lingua Franca: Swahili in Tanzanian/Malawian border areas.

Hundreds of smaller languages reflect the region's deep cultural history.