מאניקה

Manyika (chiManyika) is a Bantu language of the Shona cluster (Glottolog S13a), spoken by approximately 2 million people in Manicaland Province of eastern Zimbabwe (around Mutare/Old Umtali) and the adjacent border zones of Manica Province, Mozambique. Historically classified as a dialect of Shona under the 1931 Doke unification report, Manyika is increasingly recognised as a distinct cluster member with its own lexical inventory, phonological features (Manyika-specific tone patterns and consonant lenition), and rich literary tradition. Famous Manyika speakers include former Zimbabwe Prime Minister Robert Mugabe (born in Kutama, Zvimba District). Despite its 2M speaker count, Manyika faces ongoing pressure from Standard Shona in education and media; the Manyika literary tradition is preserved through hymnody, oral history (ngano), and regional poetry.