Tsonga (people)

Traditional dance

Tsonga (Batsonga) is a people living in Mozambique south of the Sabi River and in adjacent areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe .

The language belongs to zone S of the Bantu language group of the Benue-Congolese family of the Niger-Congolese macro-family of languages. Part of the tsonga (the so-called shangaan-tsonga , or hlanganu ) are the descendants of the Zulus , who moved from Natal in the 1st half of the 19th century . Most tsongas preserve traditional beliefs (the cult of the forces of nature, the cult of ancestors ), and some are Christians ( Catholics ). The main occupation is agriculture ( millet , cassava , legumes ). Departure is developed in the industrial areas of South Africa and Zambia .

The total number is more than 7 million people, including about 5 million people. - in Mozambique , 2 million - in South Africa , about 0.5 million people. - in Zimbabwe .