The Western Lakes Bantu languages form a subgroup of the Great Lakes Bantu languages spoken in Rwanda, Burundi the DRC, Uganda and Tanzania.
Classification The Western Lakes Bantu languages are classified within the Glottolog database as follows:https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/west2842
Kabwari Kivu Forest Kivu Fuliiric Fuliiru-Vira Fuliiru Vira (also called Joba) Nyindu Nyindu Hunde-Havu Havu Hunde Shi Tembo West Highlands Kivu Kinyarwanda Rundic Ha Hangaza-Shubi Hangaza Shubi Kirundi Kitwa Vinza Rwenzori Konzo Nande
History Proto-Western Lakes Bantu was developed in 400 AD by those who remained in the original Proto-Great Lakes Bantu homeland, which was in and on the hillsides of the Kivu Rift Valley.
Similar to the Okiek people in Kenya, the Great Lakes Twa played important roles as "outsiders" in the ritual and oral historiographic life of Western Lakes Bantu speaking societies.
References