Languages

Please download our PDF for some funky phrases.

The people of Ibo are Kimwani speaking. A language where words seem to be separated only by breaths. Kimwani is a minority language spoken in Mozambique, including the Quirimbas Islands. Kimwani means, "language of the people from the coast." Kimwani is considered unusual among sub-Saharan languages.

Interestingly Kimwani lost the feature of lexical tone, which means that words spoken are rarely stressed. Almost like a language that doesn't get angry. Kimwani speakers also speak Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique. Up to 20 percent of the population of Ibo use Portuguese as their second language.

All team members at Ibo Island Lodge are fluent in English. English on the island is a little more dispersed, and spoken with a traditional Ibo tongue.