Languages of Africa

There are 1,250 to 2,100 and by some counts over 3,000 languages spoken natively in Africa, in several major language families:

Afroasiatic is spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of the Sahel

Nilo-Saharan is centered on Sudan and Chad (disputed validity)

Niger–Congo (Bantu and non-Bantu) covers West, Central, Southeast and Southern Africa

Khoe is concentrated in the deserts of Namibia and Botswana

Austronesian is spoken in Madagascar.

Indo-European is spoken on the southern tip of the continent.

There are several other small families and language isolates, as well as obscure languages that have yet to be classified. In addition, Africa has a wide variety of sign languages, many of which are language isolates.

About a hundred of the languages of Africa are widely used for inter-ethnic communication. Arabic, Somali, Berber, Amharic, Oromo, Swahili, Hausa, Manding, Igbo, Fulani and Yoruba are spoken by tens of millions of people. If clusters of up to a hundred similar languages are counted together, twelve are spoken by 75 percent, and fifteen by 85 percent, of Africans as a first or additional language.

This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Languages_of_Africa

Latest News for: African languages

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New school accountability system identifies 341 Iowa schools in need of support

Cedar Rapids Gazette 18 Dec 2018

“Targeted” schools have one or more underserved groups of students — such as African-American students, English language learners or low-income students — that scored as low as the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state ... English language proficiency....

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Ibeyi: The French-Cuban twins who sing in Yoruba

BBC News 18 Dec 2018

Ibeyi is a band made up of two French-Cuban sisters, who often sing in the West African language Yoruba ... ....

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Committee formed to foster China-Asia-Africa exchange

China.dot.org 17 Dec 2018

Huang Zhuoyue (left-1), director of the Chinese Culture Translation and Communication Research Center, takes photo with members of the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee in Beijing on Dec ... which included establishing the CCTSS-Asian, African Language Committee....

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Migration and football: Yes, immigrants want to join our team. They want to help us win.

Newsweek 17 Dec 2018

I’ve heard the shared global language of a Croatian toddler’s simple joy in kicking the ball in their World Cup Final fan zone in Split, as they celebrated their rallying goals against eventual champions France, all while ingesting a healthy dose of passion from an Englishman ......

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Belgium's Africa museum: a fitting tribute or a testament to colonialism?

The National 17 Dec 2018

Exhibits are brought to life through the testimonials of Africans (or people of African descent) and the interactive items can now be touched, as well. Interspersed among the displays are colourful and often political artworks by contemporary African artists ... There is also a room dedicated to the African diaspora, with films, books and documents....

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Squawkaholic: Foul-Mouthed Parrot Learns How to Shop Online With Owner’s Alexa

Sputnik 17 Dec 2018

Rocco, an African grey parrot who was kicked out of a sanctuary for his foul language, is still being his mischievous self. now he’s using his new owner’s Amazon Alexa device to play music, tell jokes and even order snacks ... ....

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In a world of borders, Western Union’s strategy is still immigrant-first

Quartz 17 Dec 2018

As more people move around the world seeking better opportunities, money has to become as mobile as the people it serves ... The following is a lightly edited excerpt from our discussion ... Quartz ... We wanted to understand what the African customer needed to make it happen to be financially included ... It was really speaking in their language to their needs....

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S. African president vows to foster true reconciliation

Xinhua 16 Dec 2018

South Africans should stand as one in condemning those who use all manner of vile names to describe black South Africans or who threaten to kill whites, or who insult others because of the faith, culture or language, Ramaphosa said. He urged South Africans to unite so as to bridge the divides that still exist between them....

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Statue of “Racist” Ghandi Removed From Ghana University Campus

The Source 16 Dec 2018

A statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi has been removed from Ghana’s most prestigious university following complaints that he was racist against Africans ... The head of language, literature and drama at the Institute of African Studies, Obadele Kambon, said the removal was an issue of “self-respect”....

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Joyful 'Osho' followers around the world celebrate the birthday of their Master

Coastweek 16 Dec 2018

Combating prejudice and ending violence against Africans in India ... Distinctive African flavour permeates Nairobi Diwali celebrations ... Language Lexicon ... Indian Prime Minister Modified His Message during African Safari ... Over 105 tons of ivory burnt by Kenyans to save African elephants ... Indian language words still flourish in East African 'lingua franca'....

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‘He will bring light into our darkness’: DR Congo pins hope on a new leader

The Observer 16 Dec 2018

The Avenue Salongo is the Champs-Élysées of Mbuji-Mayi, residents say. The comparison is an optimistic one. There is little that unites this strip of pitted tarmac, with its pair of faltering streetlights and sweltering central African humidity, with the famously beautiful Parisian boulevard – other than the French language spoken on both ... ....

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The music of marimbas

CBS News 16 Dec 2018

A mallet instrument that traces its roots to Africa, the name marimba in the Central African language of Bantu means "wood that sings." ... Serena Altschul gets some percussion lessons, and talks with experts intent on making sure this ever-evolving instrument continues to sing ... ....

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