Which language group does the term Bantu refer to?

The term Bantu refers to a group of sub-Saharan African languages that are part of a larger language family. This language group includes numerous languages spoken by various ethnic groups across a wide geographical area in Africa, from Cameroon and Nigeria in the north to South Africa in the south. The Bantu languages share common linguistic features and are characterized by their use of noun classes and verb conjugation patterns. The classification as a sub-Saharan African language group encompasses languages such as Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, and many others, highlighting the cultural and historical connections among the peoples who speak these languages.