Mbula-Bwazza

A language of Nigeria

ISO 639: mbu
Population: 100,000 (2012 M. Rueck, Z. Yoder, and K. Hannelová).
Location:: Adamawa state: Demsa, Girei, Numan, Shelleng, and Song LGAs.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Jarawan, Nigerian
Dialects: Bwazza (Bare, Bere, Bwa’za, Bwaza, kunBwazza), Mbula, Bakopi (kunBuko), Gwamba (Nkono), Tambo (Begel, kunBegel, Taumbo). Mbula 73% intelligible of Tambo, over 80% of other dialects. Mbula-Bwazza [mbu], Kulung [bbu], and Bile [bil] mutually unintelligible (less than 25%). Lexical similarity: Mbula 75% with Bwazza and Gwamba, 70% with Bakopi, 64% with Tambo; Mbula-Bwazza [mbu] 37% with Kulung [bbu], 48% with Bile [bil].
Language Use: Hausa [hau] also used at home, English [eng] used in schools and by the young. Mbula Pastors’ Forum promoting the use of Mbula in the churches. Home, church. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Hausa [hau]. Also use Bacama [bcy]. Also use Bata [bta]. Also use Dera [kna]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Kaan [ldl]. Also use Longuda [lnu]. Also use Nigerian Fulfulde [fuv]. Used as L2 by Kaan [ldl].
Language Development: NT: 2016.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Mbula-Bwazza
Writing: Latin script [Latn], used since 2008.
Other Comments: Primary schools in major villages; a few secondary schools. Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Adamawa state: Demsa, Girei, Numan, Shelleng, and Song LGAs.