The
Central Sudanic languages are a sub group of the
Nilo-Saharan language family.
Central Sudanic languages are spoken by about 6 percent of Ugandans,
most of whom live in the northwest. The Lugbara (roughly 3.8 percent
of the total) and the Madi (roughly 1.2 percent) are the largest of
these groups, representing the southeastern corner of a wide belt of
Central Sudanic language speakers stretching from Chad to Sudan.
The Lugbara live in the highlands, on an almost treeless plateau
that marks the watershed between the Zaire River and the Nile.
The Madi live in the lowlands to the east.
Lugbara and Madi speak closely related languages and bear strong cultural
similarities. Both groups raise millet, cassava, sorghum, legumes, and
a variety of root crops. Chickens, goats, and, at higher elevations,
cattle are also important. Corn is grown for brewing beer, and
tobacco is an important cash crop.
This region is densely populated, dotted with small settlements
separated from one another by streams or patches of bush. Each
settlement consists of a family cluster, with a core of patrilineal
relatives and their polygynous families living under the authority of
a lineage elder. Membership in a settlement is flexible;
people leave and rejoin a village on the basis of interpersonal relationships.
According to Ethnologue, there are 64 Central Sudanic languages :
Mangbetu (4)
Mangbutu-Efe (6)
Moru-Madi (10)
Northern Moru-Madi (1)
Southern Moru-Madi (3)
West Central Sudanic (41)
Kara (3)
Sara-Bagirmi (27)
Sara (15)
Bedjond MAP (Chad)
Dagba DGK (Central African Republic)
Laka LAM (Chad)
Mbai MYB (Chad)
Ngam NMC (Chad)
Ngambay SBA (Chad)
Sar MWM (Chad)
Vale (2)
Birri BVQ (Central African Republic)
Fongoro FGR (Sudan)
Sinyar (1)
Kresh (2)