Page Type: languageBwa | Ethnologue

BWW ISO 639-3

Bwa

A language of Democratic Republic of the Congo

ISO 639
bww
Alternate Names
Boa, Boua, Bua, Kibua, Kibwa, Libenge, Libua, Libwali, Ɓoa, ɓʉwa
Population
200,000 (1994 SIL).
Location:
Bas-Uele province: Aketi, Bambesa, Bondo, and Buta territories; Tshopo province: Banalia territory; Nord-Ubangi province: northeastern, on Ubangi river, Buta is center; Bas-Uele province: Aketi and Bondo territories (Benge and Bati dialects), Tshopo province: Banalia territory (Kiba dialect).
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Ngombe (C.44)
Dialects
Leboa-Le, Yewu (Ɓoa-yewu, ɓʉwa-yewu), Kiba, Benge, Bati (Baati). Lexical similarity: 90% with Benge and Bati dialects, 80%–85% with Pagibete [pae], 60%–80% with Kango [kty], 60%–65% with Ngelima [agh], 55%–60% with Lika [lik], 48% with Komo [kmw], 43% with Bali [bcp], 37% with Ngombe [ngc], 35% with Budza [bja], 30% with Lingala [lin].
Typology
Some noun classes have suffixes in addition to the usual prefixes.
Language Use
Also use Lingala [lin] (Boone and Olson 2004).
Language Development
Bible portions: 1938.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bwa
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Buta and Bambesa territories have similar dialects. Clan names: Bangingita, Bagunzulu, Bokipa. Different from Bua [bub] of Chad.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bas-Uele province: Aketi, Bambesa, Bondo, and Buta territories; Tshopo province: Banalia territory; Nord-Ubangi province: northeastern, on Ubangi river, Buta is center; Bas-Uele province: Aketi and Bondo territories (Benge and Bati dialects), Tshopo province: Banalia territory (Kiba dialect).