Zemba language

Zemba
Zemba
Dhimba
Native to	Angola, Namibia
Ethnicity	Herero, Tjimba
Native speakers	Angola: 18,000 (2011); Namibia: 7,000 (2016)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu Kavango–Southwest Southwest Bantu Herero (R.30) Zemba; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	dhm
Glottolog	zemb1238
Guthrie code	R.311
ELP	Himba

Zemba or Dhimba is a Bantu language spoken mainly in Angola where the language has about 18,000 speakers, and also in Namibia with some 7,000. It is closely related to Herero, and is often considered a dialect of that language, especially as the Zemba are ethnically Herero.

There are various spellings and pronunciations of the name: Zimba, Dhimba, Tjimba, Chimba, etc. However, when spelled Tjimba or Chimba in English, it generally refers to the Tjimba people, non-Herero hunter-gatherers who speak Zemba. The spelling Himba should be distinguished from the Himba people and their dialect of Herero.

Ethnologue separates Zemba as a distinct language from Himba (Otjihimba, Ovahimba), classified as a dialect of Herero proper. Maho (2009), however, sets up a Northwest Herero language, which includes Zemba; from the map, it would appear to include Himba and Hakaona as well.

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