Tshilubaspeaking

Tshilubaspeaking refers to the use and understanding of Tshiluba, a Bantu language spoken primarily in the south-central part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the language of the Luba people, who inhabit the Kasai and Lomami provinces. Tshiluba is one of the four national languages of the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside Lingala, Kikongo, and Swahili.

The language has several dialects, with the main ones being Kasai, Lulua, and Songe. While variations exist, speakers of different dialects can generally understand each other. Tshiluba has a rich oral tradition and is used in everyday communication, education, and media within the Luba communities. It is characterized by its tonal nature and a grammatical structure common to Bantu languages, including noun classes and verb conjugations. Efforts have been made to standardize Tshiluba for educational and literary purposes, including the development of dictionaries and grammars. Learning Tshiluba provides insight into the culture, history, and social fabric of the Luba people.