Bende

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A language of Tanzania

Alternate Names

Babende, Bhabhēnde, Kibende, Si’bende

Sibhēnde

User Population

41,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).

Katavi region: Mpanda district, Kabungu, Karema, and Mwese divisions; Rukwa region.

Language Maps

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F, Tongwe-Bende (F.12)

None known. Lexical similarity: 74% with Sumbwa [suw], 72% with Nyamwezi [nym], 70% with Sukuma Hu [suk], 67% with Ha [haq], 71% with Rundi [run], 60% with Hangaza [han], 58% with Nyankore [nyn], 65% with Holoholo [hoo] and 90% with Tongwe [tny]. Bende and Tongwe may be a single language.

Used by all. Also use Swahili [swh].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2018.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Bende

Latin script [Latn].

Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.