The Central Delta languages or Outer Cross are spoken in Rivers State, Bayelsa State and Nigeria. Outer cross together with Lower Cross and Upper Cross are a family of Cross River Languages. Ogbia is the most populous Outer Cross group, with over 390,000 speakers.
The languages are Abua–Odual, Ogbia, Kugbo, Abureni, Obulom, O’chi’chi’, Ogbogolo, Ogbronuagum.
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Notes Abua Central Abuan, Ẹmughan, Ọtabha (Ọtapha), Okpeḍen Abuan Abua 11,000 (1963): estimated 25,000 (Faraclas 1989) Rivers State, Ahoada LGA Kolo cluster Kolo Ọgbia, Ogbinya 100,000 (1987 UBS) Rivers State, Brass LGA Kolo Kolo Agholo Oloiḅiri Kolo Anyama Kolo no data Obulom Abuloma Rivers State, Okrika LGA, Abuloma town Oḍual Arughaunya, Aḍibom Ọḍual Oḍual Saka 8,400 (1963); 15,000 (1980 UBS) Rivers State, Ahoada LGA (F&J 1940) report 700 speakers, but in the 1970s, Barnwell (p.c.) found only 20 speakers living in a quarter of one town. The Odut are Mbembe speakers, and there is no separate language. Ogbogolo One town only Rivers State, Ahoada LGA Ogbrọnuagụm Bukuma Agum One town only, north of Buguma Rivers State, Degema LGA Ọchịchị Ọchịchị Ọchịchị A few speakers; moribund, since speakers have switched to Echie Rivers State, Etche LGA, towns of Ikwerengwo and Umuebulu Kụgbọ 2,000 (1973 SIL) Rivers State, Brass LGA Abureni Mini Mini 3 villages Rivers State, Brass LGA no data
References
Blench, Roger. 2008. The Central Delta languages: comparative word list and historical reconstructions.