Oshiwambo | Ethnologue

A language of Angola

ISO 639: kua
Alternate Names: Cuanhama, Humba, Kuanjama, Kwancama, Kwanjama, Kwanyama, Ochikwanyama, Oshikuanjama, Ovambo, Oxikuanyama, Wambo
Autonym: Oshikwanyama, Oshiwambo
Population: 740,000 in Angola, all users. L1 users: 700,000 in Angola (2018). L2 users: 40,000 (2013 SIL). Total users in all countries: 1,348,000 (as L1: 1,308,000; as L2: 40,000).
Location:: South central, Namibian border: Cunene and Kuando Kubango provinces.
Language Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Original language of powerful Kwanyama kingdom of southern Angola and northern Namibia. Spread as language of conquest throughout colonial period up to year 1917. Currently used in eastern half of Kunene Province in church, market, business, and media domains.
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, R, Wambo (R.21)
Dialects: Kwanyama, Mbadja. Intelligible with Ndonga [ndo] and Kwambi [kwm].
Language Use: Used as L2 by Nkumbi [khu], Northwestern !Kung [vaj].
Language Development: Most adults can read it, while most youth cannot. To date, it is used as a written standard by the Mbadja people as well as the Kwanyama people (2014 SIL). Used in first grade only in some schools. Literature. Dictionary. Bible: 1974.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Oshiwambo
Writing: Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.