Southern Ndebele people

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Ndebele people
AmaNdebele

The women of Loopspruit Cultural Village, near Bronkhorstspruit, in front of a traditionally-painted Ndebele dwelling.
Total population
2.1 million (2023 Census)
Regions with significant populations
Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces in  South Africa
Languages
IsiNdebele, English, Afrikaans
Religion
Christian, Animist
Related ethnic groups
Hlubi, Bhaca, Swazi, Other Nguni peoples (especially Northern Ndebele)

AmaNdebele are an ethnic group native to South Africa who speak isiNdebele. The group is separate from the Northern Ndebele who broke away from the Zulu during Tshaka's time. They mainly inhabit the provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo, all of which are in the northeast of the country. In academia this ethnic group is referred to as the Southern Ndebele to differentiate it from their relatives the Northern Ndebele people of Limpopo and Northwest.