Shangaan

people

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July 13, 2026

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The Shangaan people, also known as Tsonga, are a Bantu-speaking group primarily residing in Mozambique, with significant populations in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa's Transvaal region. They were historically organized into independent groups but were later conquered by Nguni peoples in the 19th century.1

The Tsonga economy relies on agriculture and pastoralism, with cassava as a staple crop. Many now depend on wage labor, often migrating for work. Their social structure is patrilineal, with villages composed of patrilineage members. Polygyny is common, and a bride-price is paid. While many Tsonga are Christian, traditional beliefs involving the propitiation of ancestral spirits remain prevalent. The Tsonga language is one of the official languages of South Africa.12

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Gazankulu
…South Africa, designated for the Shangaan and Tsonga people. It was made up of four detached portions of low veld, two of which adjoined Kruger National Park. The Tsonga people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, were joined by 19th-century Shangaan migrants from what is now Mozambique, culminating in a…
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…South Africa, designated for the Shangaan and Tsonga people. It was made up of four detached portions of low veld, two of which adjoined Kruger National Park. The Tsonga people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, were joined by 19th-century Shangaan migrants from what is now Mozambique, culminating in a…
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South Africa
Languages of South Africa
…groups are the Tsonga (or Shangaan) speakers (primarily the Tsonga peoples), concentrated in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, and the Venda speakers (primarily the Venda peoples), located largely in Limpopo province.
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…groups are the Tsonga (or Shangaan) speakers (primarily the Tsonga peoples), concentrated in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, and the Venda speakers (primarily the Venda peoples), located largely in Limpopo province.
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