The Basa language, disambiguated as Basa-Benue, and also called Abacha, Abatsa, ru-Basa, Rubassa, is a Kainji language spoken in central Nigeria, in the vicinity of Bassa, Ankpa, Nasarawa, Gurara, Kwali and Makurdi.[1] Blench (2008) notes that Basa-Makurdi, Basa-Gurara and Basa-Kwali are separate varieties from Basa-Kwomu or Basa-Komo of Bassa, Ankpa and Nasarawa Local Government Areas and other Bassa speakers are Bassa Nge (also known as Bassa Nupe.
| Basa | |
|---|---|
| Basa-Benue | |
| ru-basa | |
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Benue River |
Native speakers | 300,000 (2020)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | bzw |
| Glottolog | basa1282 |
| Basa[2] | |
|---|---|
| Person | bu-Basa |
| People | a-Basa |
| Language | ru-Basa |
Basa speakers also often speak the Igala language, the Ebira language or the Nupe language.[1]
Dialects and distribution
edit- Basa-Kwomu (Basa-Komo) dialect spoken in the states of Kogi and Nasarawa in Bassa, Ankpa and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.
- Basa-Makurdi dialect spoken in the state of Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area.
- Basa-Gurara dialect spoken in the state of Niger in Gurara Local Government Area
- Basa-Kwali dialect spoken in the Federal Capital Territory in Kwali Local Government Area.
- Bassa Nge (Bassa Nupe) dialect spoken in Kogi State and Niger State by the Bassa Nge people who also speak the Tako dialect of the Nupe language.
References
edit