sango

Sango is a language of the Central African Republic (CAR) and one of the official languages of the country alongside French. It originated as a trade lingua franca around Bangui and is part of the Ubangian language family, developing from Ngbandi-based speech. Sango is widely used in daily communication across the country and serves as a major medium in education, government, media, and public life.

The Sango people are an ethnic group in the CAR who traditionally occupy areas near the capital and central regions. Over time, Sango spread as a lingua franca, and many non-Sango communities use it as a second language. The language has a standardized orthography based on the Latin script and is taught in schools, used in radio and newspapers, and written in literature and online content.

Linguistically, Sango is classified within the Ubangian family. It began as a pidgin and creole that coalesced into a full language with its own grammar and vocabulary, incorporating elements from neighboring languages and contact with French. Regional varieties exist, but mutual intelligibility remains high among speakers.

Sango plays a central role in national identity and everyday communication in the CAR, reflecting urbanization, education, and media development. It remains an important vehicle for cultural expression, music, and public discourse.