Sepulana

Sepulana (also sePulane) is the language of the Mapulana people, a low-veld ethnic group primarily located in the Bushbuckridge area, which spans the northeastern Mpumalanga and southeastern Limpopo provinces of South Africa. The language is spoken by an estimated 800,000 people.

Sepulana is classified within the Bantu language family, specifically as part of the Sotho-Tswana group, and is considered an Eastern Sotho language, alongside Pai and Kutswe. Historically, Sepulana has been incorrectly regarded as a dialect of Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) or Sepedi, a perception stemming from its geographical proximity to the Bapedi people, despite clear linguistic distinctions. This historical miscategorisation has implications for its current status. Sepulana exists predominantly in an unwritten form and is not formally taught in schools. Despite its non-official status, significant community-led efforts are underway for its documentation, revitalisation, and official recognition.