Kisuba, also known asOlusuba, is aBantu language spoken by theSuba people ofKenya. The language features an extensive noun-classification system using prefixes that address gender and number. Suba clans are located on the eastern shore and islands ofLake Victoria inKenya andTanzania. They have formed alliances with neighboring clans, such as theLuo people, via intermarriages, and as a result a majority of Suba people are bilingual inDholuo. The Suba religion has an ancient polytheistic history that includes writings of diverse, ancestral spirits. A recent revival of the Suba language and its culture has influenced the increasing number of native speakers each year.

Suba is an African language spoken by theSub-Saharan people on the eastern shores of Lake Victoria. Trade dependence was established in the mid-19th century between theSuba people and the Luo, a larger neighboring clan. After a period of interaction, both clans became accustomed to each other's traditions and practices. Eventually, through factors such as intermarriage, education, and religion, both clans would combine and become known as the Luo-Suba. With Luo being the larger population, the alliance would decrease the demand for people to speak Suba, and in consequence, decreasing the number of native Suban speakers. Most Suban speakers became bilingual in both Suba and Luo.^[3] In the mid-1990s, a revival of the Suba language occurred after theKenyan government initiated the Suba language project, where Suba was introduced as a subject in Kenyan primary schools.^[4] In addition, many written examples of the Suban language have been studied through ancient Suban religious texts. These texts depict a detailed polytheistic religion that describes spirits of ancient ancestors as protectors of family and land.^[5] Presently, Christianity is the major religion practiced by the Suban people, where in 2010, the New Testament was translated into Suba.

The Suba language and its native speakers are located on the African eastern shores of Lake Victoria, populating both Kenya and Tanzania. Additionally, Suban natives are located on various islands within Lake Victoria.^[6]

Suban grammar and its characteristics are similar to other Bantu languages.

Suba, being a Bantu language, consists of aBantu phonology typical of other Bantu languages. In general, Suba consists of 11 consonants and 7 vowels. Constants only occur at the beginning of syllables, creating a syllable structure of V or CV. Syllables can begin with vowels but always need to end in them. Suban syllables also consist of two different tones, low and high. A high tone is marked with anacute accent (´), and a low is marked with agrave accent (`) or not marked at all. Low tones are more common in the Suban language.^{[citation needed]}

Its extensive noun classification system uses prefixing to mark gender and number, in turn determining whether the noun is singular or plural.^[7]

An important characteristic of Suban word structure is its ability to change number and meanings of words through minor changes to their words' prefixes. The prefix of a noun denotes the noun class and number to a noun, making a noun without a prefix meaningless. Most Bantu noun classification systems contain 22 noun classes, accommodating singular and plural forms as two separate noun classes. Instead, Suba contains ten noun classes by combining singular and plural forms into the same noun classes. Similarities innominal andpronominal prefixes determine what noun belongs to what noun class. By establishing a smaller noun class, the Suba language can use a less extensive prefixing system to change the meaning and plurality of words. In addition, the meaning of the root noun can fluctuate depending on the prefix used, specifically seen in pronouns. The usual word order for the Suba language isSVO, similar to English and other Bantu languages. Adjectives and number roots must agree in noun class and number with the nouns they act on.^[7]

The Subawriting system is based on theLatin script.^[9] The use of Latin script has made it easier for Suban people to practice Christianity and translate verses of biblical texts. The Subanumeral system also has Latin descent as it uses lower order to establish higher order. With Suba being one of themarginalized Bantu languages of Kenya, much more description of the language still needs to be studied.

• Languages of Kenya
• Endangered languages of Africa
• Great Lakes Bantu languages

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