Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Shangani

SOURCE

UNIC Harare

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Shangani

Language Profile

TOTAL SPEAKERS

Spoken by an estimated 100 000 people in Zimbabwe and over 3,1 million in the region.

USAGE BY COUNTRY (OFFICIAL LANGUAGE)

The language is also spoken in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The term Shangaan is used interchangeably with Tsonga; however the meaning is one but only to those of the Tsonga tribe.

BACKGROUND

Tsonga (Xitsonga) is a southern African Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people. It was officially created in 1875 at the Valdezia Mission Station and Elim/Waterval/ Shirley Mission Stations by two Swiss missionaries, Reverend Paul Berthoud and Reverend Ernest Creux. In Zimbabwe, Tsonga is known as Shangani or Shangaan.