Here's why it dominates:
* Geographical Spread: Niger-Congo languages are found in nearly all of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Atlantic coast to the Indian Ocean.
* Number of Languages: It's the largest language family in the world, with more languages than any other family.
* Number of Speakers: It has the most speakers in Africa, with hundreds of millions of people speaking languages within the family.
Other Important Language Families in Sub-Saharan Africa:
While Niger-Congo is dominant, there are other important language families in the region:
* Afro-Asiatic: This family includes languages like Berber, Arabic, Hausa, and Oromo. It is found in the northern and northeastern parts of the continent.
* Nilo-Saharan: This family includes languages like Dinka, Nuer, and Kanuri. It is found in the central and eastern parts of the continent.
* Khoisan: This family includes languages like Nama and !Kung. It is found in the southern parts of the continent.
It's crucial to remember that the distribution of these families is complex, and there are numerous smaller language families and isolates within sub-Saharan Africa.