Page Type: languageBokobaru | Ethnologue

BUS ISO 639-3

Bokobaru

Zogben Autonym

A language of Nigeria

ISO 639
bus
Alternate Names
Bariba, Busa-Bokobaru, Bussanchi, Bussawa, Zogbeya, Zogbme, Zugweya
Autonym
Zogben
Population
62,000 (2012 R. Jones). 10,800 in Kaiama, 51,200 in surrounding villages.
Location:
Kwara state: Kaiama LGA, some in Baruten LGA; 35 villages.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Eastern, Busa
Dialects
Kaiama, village Bokobaru. Kaiama dialect speakers and those in other villages have good mutual inherent intelligibility. Distinct from Boko [bqc] of Benin or Busa [bqp]. Lexical similarity: 86% with Boko [bqc], 91% with Bisã [bqp], 62% with Kyanga [tye], 54% with Shanga [sho], 50% with Bisa [bib] of Burkina Faso and Ghana.
Typology
SOV; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjective, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial or final; 4 suffixes; word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object; postpositions; person, number, aspect included in subject pronouns; tone changes some verb aspect; passives; CV, CVV, CCV; tonal.
Language Use
Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Baatonum [bba]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hausa [hau]. Also use Nigerian Fulfulde [fuv]. Also use Yoruba [yor].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 10%. Literacy materials available. Low motivation. Dictionary. NT: 2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bokobaru
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 2007.
Other Comments
Ethnic autonyms, often used interchangeably: Bokobaru, especially for Kaiama town people, and Zogben, peasant, for village people. The Hausa call several groups of people (Boko, Bokobaru, Busa, Bariba) Bussawa, while the Yoruba call them all Bariba. Glossonym: Bussanchi by the Hausa. Muslim, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Kwara state: Kaiama LGA, some in Baruten LGA; 35 villages.