Technological advances, including artificial intelligence-based translation tools, as well as encouraging the celebration of cultural heritage, have enabled the power of language to be harnessed in various ways. However, understanding the unique characteristics of the most widely used languages is a basic element in understanding Africa's diverse cultures. Here is a list of the most widely spoken languages on the continent.

Swahili is spoken mainly in Central and East Africa and has connections to hundreds of dialects, as it is predominant in the Bantu family of African languages. More than 150 million Africans speak it. It is among the official languages in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, and is spoken in large parts of the Great Lakes region. The African Union has adopted it as an official working language due to its widespread use and cultural and economic significance.

Igbo is mainly spoken in Nigeria. It is a tonal language, so the meaning of words depends on the tonality applied by the speaker. It comprises several decentralised dialects that share an emphasis on the meaning of names and the extensive use of proverbs, metaphors and parables.

Hausa, belonging to the Afro-Asiatic language group, is one of the oldest idioms in the world. Spoken by the millions of members of the Afro-Asiatic ethnolinguistic family, it facilitates trade and interpersonal communication throughout West Africa.

Oromo is spoken in Ethiopia and parts of Kenya and Somalia by tens of millions of people. It includes a wide variety of dialects and different modes of vocabulary. It is part of the group of Cushitic languages spoken by people who share a similar culture and history in North East Africa.

Yoruba is mainly spoken in Nigeria, Benin and Togo. Yoruba is also a tonal language. The broad vocabulary is rich in greetings, proverbs, metaphors and folklore narratives.

Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. It is the second most widely spoken Semitic language in the world after Arabic. Derived from the ancient Gheez language, it has a rather complex alphabet of 33 characters called fidel and its rich literary history dates back to the 13^th century. A distinctive aspect of the language is the 'explosive or crackling sound' produced when speakers pronounce certain consonants.

Fulfulde (fulani) is spoken throughout West and Central Africa. While most African languages are found in a specific area, Fulfulde is spoken widely, in several regions. Researchers describe this idiom as having great 'linguistic value' because of the few commonalities it has with other major West African languages.

Zulu is an official language in South Africa. The language is also tone-based, like Igbo and Yoruba. The use of clicks together with consonants is one of the most intriguing features of the Zulu idiom. Its oral tradition includes poems, proverbs and historical accounts.

Mandinka has over 12 million people using it in various West African countries: Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The strong oral tradition fostered by this language was further strengthened by the griots, famous storytellers, custodians of the historical accounts and cultural fabric of the populations.

Shona language is the most widespread in Zimbabwe. It too is a tone-based language. The use in Shona of high tones for religious communication and low tones for ordinary dialogue distinguishes it from other idioms. Much of the extensive Shona vocabulary is related to family life and social structures.

See, Africa, le 10 lingue più diffuse