Great Lakes Bantu languages

Great Lakes Bantu
Bantu zone J
Geographic distribution	Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and the DRC
Linguistic classification	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Northeast Bantu Great Lakes Bantu
Proto-language	Proto-Great Lakes Bantu
Language codes
Glottolog	grea1289

The Great Lakes Bantu languages, also known as Lacustrine Bantu and Bantu zone J, are a group of Bantu languages of East Africa. They were recognized as a group by the Tervuren team, who posited them as an additional zone (zone J) to Guthrie's largely geographic classification of Bantu. By 500BC, proto-Great Lakes Bantu speakers initially settled between Lakes Kivu and Rweru in Rwanda, before rapidly spreading as far east as Kenya.

Languages

The languages are, according to Bastin, Coupez, & Mann (1999), with Sumbwa added per Nurse (2003):

• Gungu (E10)
• Bwari (Kabwari) (D50)
• Konzo (D40): Konjo, Nande, ? Kobo
• Shi–Havu (D50): Hunde, Havu, Shi, Tembo, Nyindu, Fuliiro
• Rwanda-Rundi (D60): Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Shubi, Hangaza, Ha, Vinza
• Nyoro–Ganda (E10): Ganda, Nyankore, Nyoro, Tooro, Hema, Chiga, Soga, Gwere, West Nyala, Ruli

(See also Runyakitara language, Nkore-Kiga)

• Haya–Jita (E20): Haya–Rashi, Talinga-Bwisi, Zinza, Kerebe (Kerewe), Jita–Kara–Kwaya–Ruri, Nyambo, Subi
• Masaba–Luhya (E30): Masaba (incl. Bukusu), Luhya proper, Nyore, Nyole, Samia–Songa, Marachi, Khayo
• Logooli–Kuria (E40): Ngurimi, Ikizu–Sizaki/Shashi, Suba, Suba-Simbiti, Kabwa, Singa, Logoli (Luhya), Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki (Luhya), Gusii (Kisii), Kuria (Simbiti, Hacha, Surwa, Sweta), Zanaki, Ikoma, ?Ware
• Sumbwa (F20)

The codes in parentheses are Guthrie's original geographic classification. Maho (2009) adds Yaka. Kobo was recognized later. It's said to be about equidistant between Nande and Hunde, so it's not clear where it should be in the tree above.