Lega-Shabunda

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639: lea
Alternate Names: Igonzabale, Ileka-Igonzabale, Kilega, Kirega, Lega, Lega Shubanda, Lega-Malinga, Leka-Igonzabale, Rega, Shabunda Lega
Population: 400,000 (1982 UBS).
Location:: Maniema and Sud-Kivu provinces: Pangi and Shabunda territories; Nord-Kivu province: southwest.
Language Status: 5* (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, D, Lega-Holoholo (D.251)
Dialects: Kigala, Kigyoma, Liliga, Kisede, Kinyabanga, Kinyamunsange (Pangi). Kanu [khx] is probably a dialect with 92% reported similarity. Lexical similarity: 67%–81% with Lega-Mwenga [lgm]; 65% with Kwami [ktf]; 60% with Bembe [bmb]; 55% with Budu [buu], Mituku [zmq], and Enya [gey]; 50% with Zimba [zmb], Nyanga [nyj], and Hunde [hke]; 45% with Nande [nnb]; 30% with Komo [kmw].
Language Development: Bible: 2003.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Lega-Shabunda
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Maniema and Sud-Kivu provinces: Pangi and Shabunda territories; Nord-Kivu province: southwest.