Mwanga, or Namwanga (Nyamwanga), is a Bantu language spoken by the Mwanga people in the Muchinga Province of Zambia (mainly in the districts of Isoka and Nakonde) and in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. The 2010 Zambian census found 140,000 speakers. The current number in Tanzania is unknown; Ethnologue cites a figure from 1987 of 87,000.

There are also some speakers of Namwanga in the north-west part of Chitipa District in northern Malawi.University of Malawi Language Mapping Survey (2006), p. 29.

The Namwanga language is similar to the Mambwe language spoken by the Mambwe people of Mbala and Mpulungu districts and the Lungu people also found in Isoka. Other similar smaller peoples include the Lambyas, the Nyikas and the Wandyas.

Alphabet Nyamwanga has 5 vowels and 17 consonants, a total of 22 letters

Vowels: A E I O U

Consonants: B D F G H J K L M N P S SH T V W Y Z

Sample text Amulandu ci wuno Yesu atalesizye umuntu wino wafumyanga iviwa mwi zina lyakwe nanti aca kuti atalinji pa wasambilizi wakwe? Why did Jesus not prevent a man from expelling demons, even though the man was not following him? Mwalinda tata? Good afternoon Father.

Namwanga names

Among the Namwanga, the personal name is typically bestowed upon a child either before or after the detachment of the umbilical cord. Unlike some neighboring cultures, the Namwanga do not use temporary birth names; instead, real and permanent names are given at birth. These names are selected by elderly family members to reflect Namwanga traditions and culture.

Surnames Namwanga surnames often follow specific linguistic patterns to denote gender and family identity. While many first names are gender-neutral, surnames are frequently morphologically marked to indicate sex using specific prefixes: Si-: A prefix added to the root name to denote a male (e.g., Si-mukonda). Na-: A prefix added to the root name to denote a female (e.g., Na-mukonda).

Some Namwanga surnames do not follow this prefix rule but are inherently understood within the community as referring to the same family. Male Surname Female Surname Siame Nakamba Sichone Namonje Sikombe Nakaponda Silwizya Nakalumbi Sikalangwe Nachona

First names Namwanga first names are grouped into various socio-semantic themes based on the experiences of the name-giver. These themes include clan names, names expressing the ability to fight, names that reflect character, Names that reflect gossiping, names expressing complaint, names expressing ownership, names expressing care, names expressing unity, names expressing hatred and special names. First name Gender Socio-semantic theme Meaning Alinani Male He is with Me Alinaswe Female He is with Us Alinjavwa He wIll Help Alinjita He will call me Alinjvwa He wIll Hear me Chamunda Sichilongo Clan Name Changala Chikulamayembe Carrier of Hoes Chilolwa Sichilongo Clan Name Chilumba Chiluwa Chimwemwe Chinvya Victory Chinyanyali Names Expressing Complaint Dirt Chipando Chipansya Chipwelile Lazyness Chiwanza Chiwutwe Names Expressing Ownership Owner Chizengo Names Expressing Unity Build or Unite Chuswa Chuusa Sichilongo Clan Name Imbanji Suffering Izukanji Memory Kachinga Male Protector Kafwatula Sichilongo Clan Name Kafwimbi Names Expressing the Ability to Fight Conqueror Kamyalile Kangafwe Kapewa Simwawa Clan Name Kasempa Simwawa Clan Name Katwamakondo Simwawa Clan Name Kongonsyanji Kundananji Love One Another Kusechela Rejoycing Kuzipa Beautiful Landanji Names that Reflect Gossiping Keep on Talking Lavya Saviour Lenganji Asking God Leukanji Reflect Lolelanji Something to look up too Lukundo Love Lumbulanji Calm Down Lumvya Luswepo Light Luwala Luwito Maimbo Names Expressing Complaint Problems Manda Days Matula Names that Reflect Character Destroyer Matumbe Mbepa Names that Reflect Gossiping Lie Melezyo Temptations Mengwa Names Expressing Unity Peace Mpazi Spirit Mpoli Mtinde Muchindikeni Muchinga Sichilongo Clan Name Muchinzi Names Expressing Care Respect Mukatakulima Mukombe Mukomanji Kill Mukundwe Mukalakata Simwawa Clan Name Mulotwa Mulwanda Musanya Musekanji Names Expressing Complaint Keep on Laughing at Him or Her Musenga Special Names Born After a Dead Brother Musiyani Leave him Mutukanji Names Expressing Complaint Keep on Laughing at Him or Her Mukukwanji Muvwambe Muvwanjilanji Muwemba Mwaka Mwezi Mwiche Mwinji Siame Clan Name Abundance Mwivwilanji Mwiza Mwizukanji Myalalanji Namonje Queen Namposya Namwinga Nataizya Thank You Nasalifya Thank You Nchindika Ndanji Welcome Ndinawe I am with You Ndipo Ndolanji Names Expressing Care Keep on Seeing Me Ndosilwe Blessing Ngao Siame Clan Name Niza I Have Come Njavwa Help Nkambaku The Alpha Male Bull Nkumbu Grace Nkusechela Nkusuwila Unisex Trust in God Nkuwanga Ntakasi Ntamanyile Ntamuwosya Ntapalila Ntapechela Ntasuwile Ntawandulwa Ntiwilila I Will Not Froget Nzala Hunger Pawi Special Names Born when there was a Funeral for a Family Member Pepanji Keep on Praying Pupuzyanji Salifyanji Names Expressing Care Keep on Thanking Sankananji Hapiness Sechelanji Sekanji Simawe Sungananji Keep Each Other Sunganji Suwilanji Unisex Faith Suwilo Swensi Tamikanji Trouble Tasula Temwananji Temwani Tengawezi Bring Together Tepwanji Be Calm Tepechela Names that Reflect Character Careless Tetelanji Unisex Forgive Tukuya Tupilwa Tusankine Twapelwa Twiza We Have Come Ulanda Vilezu Vwambanji Vwanganji Names that Reflect Gossiping Keep on Talking Wachinvwa Walukundo God is Love Waimbila Names Expressing Complaint Suffering Wanjavwa You Have Helped Me Wanjavwa You Have Heard Me Wankumbu Mercy Wankunda You Love Me Wantula Wapetwa Names that Express Hatred You are Hated Wampa God has Given Me Wamusula Disrespect Wamusuwila Trust Wantota Tired Watupa Unisex Wayimanyila Winganji Names that Express Hatred Keep on Chasing Him or Her Wiza Unisex He or She has Come Wuzyanji Yimbanji Yivwananji Names Expressing Unity Keep on Understanding Each Other Yowani Zanji Come Zevyanji Zewelanji Rejoyce Ziukanji Zonto Names that Reflect Gossiping Talking anyhow

Favourite foods

Beans and Okra commonly known as Kumbi Cassava Millet

See also Languages of Zambia

References