page_title: Mpondo people
section_title: Language
hierarchical_section_title: Mpondo people / Language
caption_attribution_description: Middle aged Mpondo woman on her way home (Mpande, Transkei South Afrika), 25.05.05, Marnie Knorr
context_page_description: The Mpondo people, also called amaMpondo, are a Southern African Nguni/Mbo ethnic group. Their traditional homeland has been in the contemporary era Eastern Cape province of South Africa, more specifically what used to be the Transkei region. They speak a Nguni / Mbo language called isiMpondo which is similar to other Mbo languages like Siswati, IsiHlubi and isiNdebele. The amaMpondo are currently calling for their language to be recognized as the 12th official language of South Africa.
  Having started establishing themselves as a nation from around 500AD, and by 1800 being one of 2 lands under King Faku who inherited it from King Faku before him, Pondoland was a fully institutionalized society for hundreds of years before encountering Europeans or Zulu. During the colonial and Apartheid era, the Mpondo people lived in emaMpondweni in the Transkei along with a minority of free Europeans and Xhosas.
context_section_description: The Mpondo people are currently seeking for their language to be recognised as the 12th official language of the Republic of South Africa. Other Mbo languages include isiSwati, isiNdebele and the various Tekela languages of nations such as AmaHlubi and AmaZizi. However, since isiXhosa was introduced in schools around Mpondoland most Mpondo people are also fluent in isiXhosa. AmaMpondo also interbred with the San people at an earlier stage and this can be picked up in their language that has various clicks.
caption: A Mpondo woman
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