Shambala (Kisambaa)

Shambala is a Bantu language spoken by about 66,000 people in Usambara mountains in northern Tanzania. It is mainly spoken in the Lushoto and Muheza districts in the north and east of the Tanga Region.

Shambala is also known as Sambaa, Sambala, Sambara, Schambala, Shambaa, Kisambaa, Kishambaa or Kishambala. Speakers of Shambala call their language Kisambaa and themselves Wasambaa (Msambaa = one person). The area where they live is known as Usambaa, Usambara or Shambalai. Shambala is closely related to Bondei and Zigua, and the languages are mutually intelligible. Speakers of these three languages call themselves collectively Boshazi.

Younger Shambala people tend to speak Swahili, which is the language of instruction in primary schools, and English, which is used in secondary schools, universities, the media and business.

Shambala is mainly an oral language, and few Shambala speakers write their language. It can be written with the Latin script, and there is a Shambala translation of the New Testament of the Bible.

Shambala alphabet and pronunciation

Shambala alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Shambala (Excel)
Details of the Shambala alphabet (PDF) provided by Wolfram Siegel

Sample text

  1. Azawati: Mkivika mγambe: Tate yweshu we uko mwe lwingu! Zina jako jigimbikwe! Uzumbe wako uize! Uvyokunda vibontoke kunu shi sa uko mwe lwingu!
  2. Utinke mishi yoshe nkande yetu yetiagiza!
  3. Utiushilize masa yetu! Hambu hata ishwi tamwushiliza kila muntu atibanilevyo. Ushetiingize mwe miγezo! Miya utivunile mwe vibada!

Source: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/1811/LUK.11.KISHNT05

Translation

  1. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
  2. Give us day by day our daily bread.
  3. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
    The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Sample video in Shambala

Links

Information about Shambala
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambala_language
https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/shambaa.html
https://www.everyculture.com/wc/Tajikistan-to-Zimbabwe/Shambaa.html
http://www.language-archives.org/language/ksb

Bantu languages

Aka, Aushi, Bafaw-Balong, Bangi, Bangubangu, Basaa, Bemba, Bembe, Bena, Benga, Bhaca, Bila, Bube, Budu, Bujeba, Bukusu, Bulu, Bushong, Central Kilimanjaro, Central Teke, Chichewa, Chokwe, Chopi, Chuwabu, Comorian, Dciriku, Digo, Duala, Eton, Ewondo, Fang, Fuliiru, Fwe, Ganda/Luganda, Giryama, Gogo, Gungu, Gusii, Gwere, Gyele, Ha, Haya, Hehe, Herero, Ibinda, Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki, Ikizu, Ikoma, Jita, Kabwa, Kako, Kalanga, Kamba, Kanyok, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kimbundu, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kisi, Kobo, Kogo, Komo, Kongo, Konjo, Koti, Kuhane, Kukuya, Kunda, Kuria, Kwambi, Kwangali, Kwasio, Lambya, Lega, Lengola, Lingala, Loma, Lomwe, Lozi, Luba-Katanga, Luchazi, Lunda, Luvale, Luyana, Makaa, Makonde, Makhuwa, Mandekan, Maore, Masaaba, Mbama, Mbere, Mbosi, Mbugu, Mbukushu, Mbunda, Mbuun, Mende, Mongo, Mpiemo, Mushungulu, Mwani, Myene, Nambya, Nande, Ngoni, Ngwii, Njebi, Nkore, North Teke, Northern Ndebele (South Africa), Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe), Northern Sotho, Nyamwezi, Nyakyusa, Nyemba, Nyole, Nyoro, Nyungwe, Nzadi, Oroko, OshiWambo, Pagibete, Pare, Punu, Rangi, Ronga, Safwa, Seki, Sena, Sengele, Shambala, Shona, Soga, Songe, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Suba, Sukuma, Swahili, Swati, Taita, Talinga, Tanga, Tembo, Tetela, Tonga, Tongwe, Tooro, Tshiluba, Tsonga, Tswa, Tswana, Tumbuka, Turu, Umbundu, Venda, Vili, Vwanji, Wanzi, West Teke, Xhosa, Yakam, Yansi, Yao, Yasa, Yeyi, Zigula, Zinza, Zulu

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 15.09.25. Last modified: 15.09.25

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