Final answer:
The Bantu languages stayed and spread throughout central and southern Africa due to factors such as ironworking knowledge and interaction with existing populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bantu languages stayed and spread throughout central and southern Africa due to a combination of factors. The Bantu people had knowledge of ironworking, which allowed them to make better tools and weapons, giving them an advantage over hunter-gatherer populations. They also interacted with and assimilated some of the existing populations, such as the rainforest-dwelling Twa and the Khoekhoe herders in South Africa. The Bantu migration was a gradual process that began several thousand years ago and spread in small groups across the continent, integrating with existing communities along the way.