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The Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages
The Kavango – Southwest Bantu languages form a distinct group within the Bantu language family, primarily spoken in Angola and western Zambia. These languages, as classified by Anita Pfouts in 2003, are grouped under Guthrie’s Zone R, a part of the larger Bantu linguistic classification. This group is notable for its diversity and the wide distribution of its languages across the southern part of Africa, particularly in regions where the Kavango and Ovambo peoples reside. The Kavango subgroup includes languages such as Kwangali and Gciriku (also called Manyo), with additional languages like Mashi, Simaa, Mbowe, Shanjo, and Kwangwa sometimes included in this category, though their classification is still debated. These…