Mambila language

Mambila
Region Nigeria and Cameroon
Native speakers 130,000  (1993)
Language family
Niger–Congo
Language codes
ISO 639-3 Either:
mzk – Nigerian Mambila
mcu – Camerounian Mambila

Mambila is a Bantoid dialect chain stretching across Nigeria and Cameroon. Notable dialects are Barup, Bang, Dorofi, Gembu, Hainari, Kabri, Mayo Ndaga, Mbamnga, Tamien, Warwar (in Nigeria); Ju Ba, Sunu Torbi (Torbi), Ju Naare (Gembu), Langa (in Cameroun). It goes by numerous names, which, besides the dialectical names, include Bea, Ble, Juli, Lagubi, Nor, Nor Tagbo, Tongbo, and the spellings Mabila, Mambere, Mambilla.

Tep is generally considered a dialect, but though Tep speakers are ethnically Mambila, their speech is not intelligible to other varieties.

Blacksmiths among the Mambila once spoke Somyev, a related Mambiloid language, though this is nearly extinct.

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Last modified on 28 February 2013, at 13:00