The Makaa–Njem languages are a group of Bantu languages spoken in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. They are coded Zone A.80 in Guthrie's classification.
According to Nurse & Philippson (2003), adding the Kako languages (Guthrie's A.90) forms a valid node, called Pomo–Bomwali (Kairn Klieman 1997).
Languages
Kako The Guthrie Kako (A.90) languages are: Kwakum Pol Pomo-Kweso (Pomo, Kweso) Kako.
Makaa–Njem The Guthrie Makaa–Njem (A.80) languages are:
Language namePrimary locationSecondary location(s)Ethnic group(s)No. speakersAll totals are based on the relevant Ethnologue pages.RemarksBekwelCongoCameroon, GabonBekwel12,060Close to Nkonabeeb and Koonzime. Cameroonian speakers also use Mpongmpong."Bekwel", Ethnologue.BomwaliCongoCameroonBomwali39,280ByepCameroonNoneMaka9,500Also called North Makaa, though not intelligible with Makaa."Byep", Ethnologue.KolCameroonGabonBekol12,000Speakers use Makaa or Koonzime as well."Kol", Ethnologue.KoonzimeCameroonNoneBadwe'e, Nzime30,000Badwe'e speak Koozime dialect; Nzime speak Koonzime dialect. Used as a second language by many Baka."Koonzime", Ethnologue.MakaaCameroonNoneMaka80,000Related to Byep (North Makaa) and Kol, although unintelligible with them."Kol", Ethnologue.MpiemoCentral African RepublicCameroon, CongoMbimu29,000MpumpongCameroonNoneNkonabeeb45,000Ngumba (Kwasio)CameroonEquatorial GuineaMabi, Ngumba, Bujeba, Gyele (Koya, Kola)22,000The Gyele are PygmiesNjyemCameroonCongoNjyem7,000Spoken by many Baka as a second language."Njyem", Ethnologue.SwoCameroonNoneSwo9,000High level of influence from Beti."So", Ethnologue.UkhwejoCentral African RepublicNoneBenkonjo2,000
Maho (2009) adds Shiwe (Oshieba) of central Gabon.
Glottolog classifies the languages as follows:
Makaa–Kako (A.80-90) languages: Kako (or Mkako, Nkoxo, Dikaka, Yaka) Kwakum (or Kpakum, Pakum, Bakum, Abakum, Abakoum, Akpwakum) Pol (or Pol, Pori, Pul) (Azom, Polri Kinda) Pomo-Kweso (Pomo, Kweso) Makaa–Njem (A.80) languages Bomwali (or Bomali, Boumoali, Bumali, Lino, Sangasanga) Yambe Mpoic languages: Mpongmpong (or Mpumpong, Pongpong, Mpompo, Mpopo, Mbombo, Bombo) Bekwil (or Bekwie, Bekwel, Bakwil, Bakwele, Okpele) Njemic languages: Koonzime (or Kooncimo, Koozhime, Koozime, Nzime) Njyem (or Nyem, Njem, Ndjem, Ndjeme, Ndzem, Ngyeme, Djem, Dzem) Mpiemo–Ukhwejo languages: Mpiemo (or Mpyemo, Mbyemo, Mbimou, Mbimu, Bimu, Mpo) Ukhwejo (or Benkonjo) Western A80 languages: Mvumboic languages: Gyele (or Guiele, Giele, Gieli, Gyeli, Bogyeli, Bondjiel, Bajeli, Babinga, Bakola, Bakuele, Bekoe, Likoya) Kwasio (or Kwassio, Bisio, Bissio, Bisiwo, Bujeba, Mabi, Mabea, Ngumba, Mgoumba, Ngoumba, Mvumbo) Shiwe (or Shiwa, Chiwa, Oshieba, Ossyeba) Makaaic languages: Byep-Besep (or North Makaa) (Byep, Besep) Makaa (or South Makaa) Kol (or Bikele-Bikay, Bikele-Bikeng, Bikélé, and Bekol) So (or Sso, Swo, Shwo, Fo)
Notes
References
Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Retrieved 7 June 2006.