The paradox of number and non-number in Kiswahili classes

Within the Bantu linguistic world, genetic class systems stand as central pillars of their communication systems. In this study, we argue that, in classes, social organization and natural kind systems, there are anomalies that do not confirm entirely the standard division of number as singular versus plural pairs of affixes in Bantu. We suggest that a principle of non-number is responsible for such a conclusion. We draw attention to the contradictions involving non-number in the systems and suggest that class affixes are not inherently number affixes. This anomaly is partly resolved in Bantu classes only when non-number is described as a neutral or central category. We conclude that Bantu classes are primarily classifiers of natural kinds of object, and only secondarily determiners of number.