The Shi are found in Democratic Republic of the Congo. They live in the highlands of the Kivu Region, between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu.
The Population in Democratic Republic of the Congo is 1,985,000 (Peoplegroups.org, 2024)
They speak a Bantu language. A large concentration of the Shis can be found near Bukavu. Ethnologists consider them to be part of the Kivu cluster of peoples. In the highlands, where they live more than 4,000 feet above sea level, the Shi people farm and raise cattle for milk and meat.
The inhabitants of Bushi Region (D.R.Congo) are the Shi people (Shi: Bashi, singular: Mushi) and their language is the Shi language (Mashi), a Central (Zone J) Bantu language.
During the last thirty years, the Shis have often engaged in violent struggles for power with the Kusu people, who live to the west.
The Shi people are exactly close neighbours of Lega; Fuliiro, Bavira and Bembe people in the southern part of South Kivu; the Banyarwanda/Barundi people in the neighboring countries, and are close neighbours of Bahunde and Banyanga people who are located in the North Kivu province.
People are mainly farmers in this chiefdom; but there are more and more distinguished businessmen; politicians and other intellectuals from this important ethnic group of the South-Kivu region. The Mwami Desire Kabare is the King of these people.
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