Lega language

Lega is a Bantu language, or dialect cluster, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are two major varieties, Shabunda Lega, Mwenga Lega. Mwenga Lega, with about 10% of speakers, finds Shabunda difficult to understand.^{[citation needed]}

NativetoDR Congo

EthnicityLega

Native speakers

(450,000 cited 1982–2000)^[1]

Language family

Niger–Congo?

• Atlantic–Congo
  • Benue–Congo
    • Bantoid
      • Bantu (Zone D.20)
        • Lega–Binja
          • Lega–Bemba
            • Lega

Quick facts Native to, Ethnicity ...

Lega
Native to	DR Congo
Ethnicity	Lega
Native speakers	(450,000 cited 1982–2000)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu (Zone D.20) Lega–Binja Lega–Bemba Lega
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Variously: lea – Shabunda Lega lgm – Mwenga Lega khx – Kanu ktf – Kwami
Glottolog	lega1253
Guthrie code	D.25,251[2]
ELP	Kanu

Close

Variant spellings of 'Lega' are Rega, Leka, Ileka, Kilega, Kirega. Shabunda is also known as Igonzabale, and Mwenga as Shile or Ishile. Gengele is reported to be a Shabunda-based creole.

According to Ethnologue, Bembe is part of the same dialect continuum. Nyindu is a dialect of Shi that has been heavily influenced by Lega.