Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Mbali language

Mbali is a minor Bantu language of Angola, spoken on the coast on the southern edge of the large Umbundu-speaking area and the northern end of the uninhabited Namib desert. Its classification is unclear. Arends et al. suggest it might turn out to be a Kimbundu–Umbundu mixed language, though it is nowhere near Kimbundu territory.

Last revised
Jul 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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94 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Mbali
Native toAngola
Language codes
ISO 639-3(covered by Umbundu umb)1
GlottologNone
R.1032

Mbali (Olumbali, Kimbari) is a minor Bantu language of Angola, spoken on the coast on the southern edge of the large Umbundu-speaking area and the northern end of the uninhabited Namib desert. Its classification is unclear. Arends et al. suggest it might turn out to be a Kimbundu–Umbundu mixed language, though it is nowhere near Kimbundu territory.3

References

References

  1. Umbundu at Ethnologue (28th ed., 2025) Closed access icon
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. Arends, Muysken, & Smith (1995), Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction