5,573,000 (1995). Republic of Benin. République du Benin. Formerly Dahomey. Literacy rate 28%, 16.3% (1977 C. M. Brann). Also includes 1,000 Tyenga. Information mainly from CNL 1980, SIL 1995, Vanderaa 1991, Ross Jones 1995. Data accuracy estimate: A2, B. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim. Blind population 175. Deaf institutions: 1. The number of languages listed for Benin is 51.
AGUNA (AWUNA, AGUNACO) [AUG] 15,000 (1991 Vanderaa CRC). Zou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. People are bilingual in Fon-gbe. Traditional religion.
AJA-GBE (AJA, ADJA, HWÈ) [AJG] 360,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 110,600 in Togo (1991); 524,000 in all countries. Mono and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Dialects: DÒGBÓ-GBÈ, HWÈGBÈ. Literacy rate in Aja-Gbe 1% to 5%. Traditional religion, Christian.
ANII (GISIDA, BASILA, BASSILA, BASECA, WINJI-WINJI, OUINJI-OUINJI) [BLO] 7,000 in Benin (1991); 700 in Togo (1991); 7,700 in all countries (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Around Bassila, Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Basila-Adele. Dialects: GIKOLODJYA, GILEMPLA, GISEDA. Closely related to Akpe of Togo. 1% literate. Muslim.
ANUFO (CHOKOSI, CHAKOSI, TCHOKOSSI, TIOKOSSI, CHOKOSSI, COKOSI) [CKO] 10,000 in Benin (1991); 41,800 in Togo (1991); 53,000 in Ghana (1991); 105,000 in all countries. Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Bia, Northern. Speakers' name for themselves is 'Anufo'. 1% to 5% literate in Anufo. Traditional religion, Muslim. Bible portions 1993. Work in progress.
AYIZO-GBE (AYIZO, AYZO) [AYB] 227,000 (1993 Johnstone). Mono and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Dialect: KADAGBE (KADA-GBE). Toli-gbe may be inherently intelligible. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
BARIBA (BAATONU, BAATOMBU, BARUBA, BARGU, BURGU, BERBA, BARBA, BOGUNG, BARGAWA, BARGANCHI) [BBA] 342,000 in Benin (1991); 60,000 in Nigeria (1993); 400,000 in all countries (1991 UBS). Central, north, Borgou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Bariba. Dialect: BOKO. The people's name for themselves is Baatonu, plural Baatombu, for the language Baatonum. Distinct from Biali (Berba). 1% to 30% literate in Bariba. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian. Bible in press (1996). NT 1977. Bible portions 1953-1986.
BASA [BQA] 1,000 (1991 Vanderaa CRC). Zou Province, three villages. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan. Related to Ashanti in Ghana. All people are trilingual in Cabe and Fon-gbe. Different from Bassa of Nigeria or Bassa of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Traditional religion.
BIALI (BIERI, BJERI, BJERB, BERBA) [BEH] 64,500 in Benin (1991); 1,500 in Burkina Faso (1991); 66,000 in all countries (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern. The language is called 'Biali' or 'Bieri', the people 'Bialaba'. 'Berba' is the French name. Close to Nateni. Historical accounts claim they originated in the F'ada Ngourma area of Burkina Faso. Many monolinguals. Low literacy rate. Different from Bariba (Berba). Below 1% literate. Traditional religion, Christian. Work in progress.
BOKO (BOKO, BOKONYA, BOKKO, BOO, BUSA-BOKO) [BQC] 70,000 in Benin (1995); 40,000 in Nigeria (1995); 110,000 in all countries (1995 Ross Jones SIM). Borgu Province. Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Southeastern, Eastern, Busa. Closely related languages: Busa-Bisã (Nigeria), Bokobaru (Nigeria), Shanga (Nigeria). 90% lexical similarity between them. Difficult intelligibility causes them to require separate literature. Each has strong ethnic pride. Speakers use French (Benin), English (Nigeria), Hausa, Yoruba, Bariba, or Fulfulde as second language when speaking to people from those groups. 6% literate. Typology: SOV; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial or final; 4 suffixes; word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object; postpositions; person, number, aspect indicated in subject pronoun; tone indicates verb aspect; passives; CV, CCV; tonal. Levels of bilingualism in French are 0:90%, 1:3%, 2:2%, 3:2%, 4:2%, 5:1%. Interfluvial. Peasant agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian. Bible 1992. NT 1984.
BOULBA (BULBA, NOOTRE, NOTRE, BURUSA) [BLY] 800 (1991 SIL). Atakora Province, Tanguieta town. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Nootre. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
CABE (CAABE, EDE CABE) [CBJ] 80,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Borgou and Zou provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Below 1% literate. Traditional religion, Christian. Survey needed.
CENKA [CEN] Borgou Province, Kasa town only. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Unclassified. Speakers are shifting to Dendi. Below 1% literate. Survey needed.
CI-GBE (CI) [CIB] Mono Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Below 1% literate. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
DENDI (DANDAWA) [DEN] 30,000 in Benin (1995 R. Jones SIM); 42,300 in Niger (1991); 72,000 in all countries, or more. Atakora and Borgou provinces, along the Niger River, from the Medru River to the Nigeria border, and down to Kandi. Many at Djogou. A few in Nigeria. Nilo-Saharan, Songhai. Closely related language to Dyerma and Songhai. Radio broadcasts in Dendi. 1% to 30% literate in Dendi. Muslim, Christian. NT in press (1994).
DITAMMARI (DITAMARI, TAMARI, SOMBA) [TBZ] 120,000 (1991 UBS). From the Togo border toward Natitingou, Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern. 65% intelligibility with Tamberma of Togo. 'Somba' is an ethnic name applied to several related dialect groups; mainly to the Ditammari. 1% to 5% literate in Ditammari. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian. NT 1989. Bible portions 1991.
FON-GBE (FO, FON, FONNU, FOGBE, DAHOMEEN, DJEDJI) [FOA] 1,400,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 35,500 in Togo (1991); 1,436,000 in all countries. South central, Weme, Atlantique, and Zou provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Fon. Dialects: FO, KOTAFOU. 1% to 30% literate in Fon-Gbe. Language of wider communication. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1993. Bible portions 1967.
FOODO [FOD] 12,425 in Benin (1979). Possibly up to 1,000 in Ghana; 13,425 in all countries. Atakora Province, Semere town. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Guang, North Guang. Originally from Ghana; probably from the village of Salaga. 1% to 5% literate in Foodo. Muslim. Work in progress.
FRENCH [FRN] 16,700 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 72,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA). Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Romance. National language. Bible 1530-1986. NT 1474-1980. Bible portions 1483-1987.
FULFULDE, BENIN-TOGO (PEULH, PEUL) [FUE] 280,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 48,200 in Togo (1993 Johnstone); 328,000 in all countries. Atakora and Borgou provinces, villages and encampments. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Fulani, West Central. Dialect: FULBE-BORGU. Dialects of northern Togo and Benin may actually be closer to the Fula spoken in Nigeria's Sokoto State. 1% literate in Fulfulde. The Gando people speak Fulfulde, but are ethnically Boko and Baatonu (Bariba). Herdsmen, sell milk and cheese. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian. Work in progress.
GEN-GBE (GE~, MINA-GEN, MINA, POPO, GUIN, GE~GBE) [GEJ] 126,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 200,900 in Togo (1991); 327,000 in all countries. 500,000 to 1,000,000 second language speakers. Mono and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Mina. The name of the people is 'Mina'. 1% to 5% literate. Trade language. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1962. Bible portions 1920-1994. Work in progress.
GOURMANCHÉMA (GOURMANTCHE, GURMA, MIGULIMANCEMA, GOULMANCEMA, GULIMANCEMA) [GUX] 50,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 45,000 in Niger (1991); 359,000 in Burkina Faso (1991); 120,500 in Togo (1991); 574,000 in all countries. Northern, Atakora and Borgou provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma. 5% to 10% literate in Gourmanchema. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1958-1990. Bible portions 1947-1988.
GUN-GBE (ALADA, ALADA-GBE, GUN-ALADA, GUN, GOUN, EGUN, GU, GUGBE) [GUW] 320,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 500,000 in all countries (1991 UBS). Southeast, Alada to Porto Novo, Weme Province. Also in Nigeria. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. 1% to 5% literate in Gun-Gbe. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1923-1972. NT 1892-1919. Bible portions 1886-1910. Work in progress.
HAUSA [HUA] 22,000,000 in all countries, first language speakers (1991). Atacora and Borgou provinces. Mainly in Nigeria. Also in Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Togo, Ghana, Sudan, Burkina Faso. Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West, A, A.1. Trade language. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1932-1980. NT 1880-1965. Bible portions 1857-1988.
ICA (EDE ICA) [ICA] 39,000 in Benin (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Zou Province. Also in Dadja, Togo. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Below 1% literate in Ica. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
IDACA (IDAACA, EDE IDACA) [IDD] 30,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Zou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Many loan words from Fon-gbe. Below 1% literate in Idaca. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
IFÈ (BAATE, ANA, ANA-IFE, ANAGO, EDE IFE) [IFE] 80,000 in Benin (1990 SIL); 74,400 in Togo (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC); 155,000 in all countries. Zou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Below 1% literate in Ife. Traditional religion. Work in progress.
IJE (HOLI, EDE IJE) [IJJ] 20,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Zou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
KABIYÉ (KABRE, CABRAI, KABURE, KABYE, CABRAIS) [KBP] 30,000 in Benin (1991 Vanderaa); 489,200 in Togo (1991 Vanderaa); 520,000 in all countries (1991 Vanderaa); 1,200,000 including second language speakers (1991 UBS). North, Atakora Province. Also in Ghana. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern. Traditional religion. NT in press (1996). Bible portions 1955-1987.
KO-GBE (KO) [KQK] 20,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Mono Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
LAMA (LAMBA, LOSSO) [LAS] 60,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 117,400 in Togo (1991 Vanderaa); 177,000 in all countries. Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Doghosie-Gurunsi, Grusi-Gouin, Grusi, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern. Dialects: KANTE, KADJALLA. Related to Tem and Kabre. 'Lama' is their name for the people and language, 'Lamba' is the French name. 'Losso' refers to people on the Losso Plain and to Nawdm. 1% to 5% literate in Lama. Traditional religion. NT 1993.
LUKPA (LOKPA, LOGBA, LEGBA, LUGBA, DOMPAGO) [DOP] 42,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 125,000 in all countries (1992 UBS). West Djougou and border areas, Atakora Province. Primarily around Kémérida. Also in Togo. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern. Different from Logba of Ghana. 5% to 30% literate in Lukpa. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim. NT 1977. Bible portions 1956-1991.
MAXI-GBE (MAXI, MAHI) [MXL] 66,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 25,300 in Togo (1991); 91,000 in all countries. Zou Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Fon. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
MBELIME (MBILME, "NIENDI", "NIENDE") [MQL] 24,500 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern. "Niende" is derogatory. Related to Ditamari and Tamberma of Togo. Traditional religion. Work in progress.
MOKOLE (MOKOLLÉ, MOKWALE, MONKOLE, FÉRI) [MKL] 65,500 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Borgou Province, Kandi and villages to the north and east. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Language related to Yoruba, but culture to Baatonu (Bariba), among whom they live. Below 1% literate in Mokole. Traditional religion, Muslim, a few Christian. Work in progress.
NAGO (NAGOTS, NAGOT, EDE NAGO) [NQG] 175,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Weme and Atakora provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Some speakers are bilingual in Yoruba. Muslim, Christian. Survey needed.
NATENI [NTM] 45,000 (1993 Johnstone). Atakora Province. The Natemba are in Toukountouna District, Tayaba in Tangiuéta District, Kuntemba in Kobly, Matéri, and Tanguiéta districts, Okoma in Tanguiéta and Kouandé districts. Tayakou is the center of traditional beliefs and practices. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma. Dialects: NATENI (NATEMBA, NATIMBA), TAYARI (TAYABA), KUNTENI (KUNTEMBA), OKONI (OKOMA). Close to Bimoba. Dialect names in parentheses are for the speakers. 1% to 5% literate in Nateni. Traditional religion, Christian. Work in progress.
PILA (PILAPILA, KPILAKPILA, YOM) [PIL] 70,000 (1993 Johnstone). Northwest, Djougou area, Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Yom-Nawdm. Ethnic groups: Temba (upland), Yoba (lowland). Close to Nawdm of Togo. 2% literate. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian. NT 1985. Bible portions 1954-1966.
SAXWE-GBE (SAXWE) [SXW] Mono Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
SETO-GBE (SETO) [STS] Ouéme (Weme) Province. Also in Nigeria. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
SOLA (SORUBA, BIJOBE, BIYOBE, SOROUBA, SOLLA, UYOBE, MIYOBE, MEYOBE, KAYOBE, KUYOBE, SOLAMBA) [SOY] 7,000 in Benin (1991); 1,700 in Togo (1991); 8,700 in all countries (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma. Below 1% literate in Sola. Traditional religion, a few Christians. Work in progress.
TEM (KOTOKOLI, COTOCOLI, TIM, TIMU, TEMBA) [KDH] 43,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 204,100 in Togo (1991); 300,000 in all countries (1987 SIL). Some in Ghana. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern. 1% to 5% literate in Tem. Muslim. Work in progress.
TOFIN-GBE (TOFIN) [TFI] 66,000 (1993 Johnstone). Weme and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Traditional religion, Christian. Survey needed.
TOLI-GBE (TOLI) [TLH] Weme and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. A dialect or closely related language to Ayizo-gbe and Kadagbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
WAAMA (YOABU, YOABOU) [WWA] 40,000 (1989 SIL). Atakora Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Eastern. Dialects: WAAMA, TANGAMMA. 1% to 10% literate in Waama. NT 1994. Bible portions 1986.
WACI-GBE (WATYI, WACI, OUATCHI) [WCI] 110,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 365,500 in Togo (1991); 475,000 in all countries. Mono Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Below 1% literate in Waci-Gbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
WEME-GBE (WEME) [WEM] 60,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Weme and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
XWEDA-GBE (XWEDA) [XWD] 54,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Atlantique Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
XWELA-GBE (PHERA, XWELA) [XWE] Mono Province. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
XWLA-GBE (PHLA, XWLA) [XWL] 30,000 (1991 L. Vanderaa CRC). Mono, Weme, and Atlantique provinces. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe, Aja. Traditional religion. Survey needed.
YORUBA (YARIBA, YOOBA, EDE-YORUBA) [YOR] 465,000 in Benin (1993 Johnstone); 20,000,000 in all countries (1991 UBS). Zou and Ouéme provinces. Also Togo, primarily Nigeria. Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri. Dialect: EGBA. 1% to 30% literate in Yoruba. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim. Bible 1884-1966. NT 1862-1987. Bible portions 1850-1960.
ZARMA (DYERMA, DJERMA, ZERMA) [DJE] 2,000,000 in all countries (1995 WA); 1,495,000 in Niger (1986); 50,000 in Nigeria (1973); 600 in Burkina Faso (1987). Borgou Province. Nilo-Saharan, Songhai. 1% to 30% literate in Dyerma. Muslim. Braille Bible portions. Bible 1990. NT 1954. Bible portions 1934.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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