Page Type: languageBaatonum | Ethnologue

BBA ISO 639-3

Baatonum

Baatonum Autonym

A language of Benin

ISO 639
bba
Alternate Names
Baatombu, Baatonu, Barba, Barganchi, Bargawa, Bargu, Bariba, Baruba, Berba, Bogung, Burgu
Autonym
Baatonum
Population
941,000 in Benin (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,041,000.
Location:
Alibori department: central and southeast; Atacora department: east; Borgou department: Bembereke, Kalale, N’Dali, Nikki, Parakou, Sinende, Perere, and east Tchaourou communes; Donga department: Djougou commune.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). Used as conquest language in 17th century. Widespread under European colonization beginning in the 1880’s in northeast Benin and northwest Nigeria. Language of colonization, trade, and church.
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Bariba
Language Use
Also use French [fra]. Used as L2 by Boko [bqc], Ditammari [tbz], Mokole [mkl], Nateni [ntm], Waama [wwa], Yom [pil].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–30%. Taught in primary schools in small-scale multilingual education program since 2013. Dictionary. Bible: 1996.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Baatonum
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Distinct from Biali (Berba) [beh]. Muslim, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Baatonum
User Population
100,000 in Nigeria (1995 R. Jones).
Location
Kwara state: Baruten LGA.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.
View other languages of Nigeria

Map

Location: Alibori department: central and southeast; Atacora department: east; Borgou department: Bembereke, Kalale, N’Dali, Nikki, Parakou, Sinende, Perere, and east Tchaourou communes; Donga department: Djougou commune.