Karekare language

Karekare (Francophonic spelling: Kerrikerri, Karekare, Karrikarri, Kare-kare, Kərikəri, Karaikarai, Karai Karai, Kerekere, Kerrikerri, Karkanci)[2] is a language spoken in West Africa and most prominently North eastern Nigeria. The number of speakers of Karekare is estimated between 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 million, primarily by the ethnic Karekare people. It is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken principally in Nigeria with communities in Bauchi state, Yobe state and other parts of Nigeria. Many Karekare words are originated from the Northwest Semitic language known as Hebrew. Karekare is most closely related to the Ngamo and Bole languages (spoken in North eastern Nigeria).[1]

Karekare
Native toNigeria
RegionBauchi State, Yobe State, Gombe state
EthnicityKarekare
Native speakers
1.8 million (2010)[1]
Latin (Karekare alphabet)
Arabic script (formerly)
Official status
Official language in
 Nigeria
Language codes
ISO 639-3kai
Glottologkare1348
Ethnic territories (pink) of the Karekare-speaking people (Bakwaró) in Nigeria

Classification

Karekare is classified among the Bole-Tangale languages, which together with Bure, Deno, Gero, Geruma, Galambu, Giiwo, Kubi, Maaka, Ɓeele, Daza, Pali, Ngamo, Bole and the isolate Tangale form the BoleTangale group of languages within the West Chadic branch of the Chadic family. In present-day Nigeria, it is estimated that there are over 2 million Karekare primary and secondary language speakers within Nigeria, it is the second most widely spoken language in North eastearn Nigeria.

Bole-Tangale languages
Main article: Bole–Tangale languages

Below is a comprehensive list of Bole–Tangale languages names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019). It is the subgroup which the Karekare language belongs [3]

LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
DazaDazaa few villages (Note: No data available)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA
BoleBara, Fika (Fiyankayen, Anpika)Bòò Pìkkà, BopikaAm Pìkkà, AmpikaFika, PiikaBolanciAnika, Bolewa32,000 (1952 W&B); est. >100,000 (1990)Bauchi State, Dukku, Alkaleri, and Darazo LGAs; Borno State, Fika LGA
BureBuBureBureBureA single village southeast of Darazo townBauchi State, Darazo LGA
ƁeeleBeleÀɓéelébòhé áɓéelé sg., Àɓéelé pl.Bellawa120 (Temple 1922); a few villagesBauchi State
Deno9,900 (LA 1971)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA; 45 km northeast of Bauchi town
GalambuGalembi, GalambeGalambuGalambu8505 (Temple 1922); 2020 (Meek 1925); 1000 (SIL)Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA, at least 15 villages
DeraShani, Shellen and GasiBo Derana Dera sg., Dera pl.Kanakuru11,300 (W&B)Adamawa State, Shellen LGA; Borno State, Shani LGA
FyandigeriFyandigeresg. laa Fyandigeri, pl. FyandigeriGerawa, Gere, Gera13,300 (LA 1971); at least 30 villages. Many Gera villages no longer speak the language. A 2018 survey suggested there are only 4 villages where the language is being passed on to children.Bauchi State, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs
GerumaSum, Duurum, possibly Gamsawa/Gamshi (Temple)Gerema, GermaGeerum (Duurum dialect); Gyeermu (Sum dialect)Geerum (Duurum dialect); sg. na Gyeermu, pl. Gyeermu (Sum dial.)4,700 (LA 1971)Bauchi State, Toro and Darazo LGAs. At least 10 villages
GiiwoKirifiBu Giiwosg. Ba Giiwo, pl. Ma Giiwo3,620 (1922 Temple); 14,000 (SIL)Bauchi State, Alkaleri, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs, 24 villages
KarekareWestern Jalalúm, northern Bíŕkaí, southern Pakaró (Pakaráu)/Matací and eastern NgwajumKәrekәre, Kerekere, Karaikarai, KerikeriBo KarekareSg. Bakarkare, Pl. KaraikaraiJalamawaKarkanci, Karekaranci, Bo SabanBakwaráu, Bakwaró1,000,000 (2005)Bauchi State; Dambam, Gamawa and Misau LGAs; Yobe State; Nangere, Potiskum, Fune and Fika LGAs Gombe State; Nafada and Deba LGAs
KholokKode, Koode, Kwoode,Widala, Pia, Wurkum, Pitiko2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin)Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango
KubiKuba1,090 (1922 Temple); 500 (1973 SIL)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, 40 km. N.E. of Bauchi town
Kulung (Chadic)Kulung (speakers consider themselves Kulung i.e. Jarawan Bantu, although their language is Chadic and related to Piya)Wurkum2000?Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA
KuttoKuptoKúttòKúttòTwo villages. 3000 (1990 est.)Bauchi State, Bajoga LGA, Yobe State, Gujba LGA
MaakaTwo dialects; Maaka (at Gulani) and Maha (at Vara)Magha, Maga, MahaMore than 4,000 (1990)Yobe State, Gujba LGA. Gulani and Bara towns and associated hamlets. Northeast of Dadin Kowa Reservoir.
NgamoGamo17,800 (1952 W&B)Borno State, Fika LGA; Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, Darazo district and Dukku LGA, Nafada district
PeroDialects associated with three major settlementsWaloPéeròsg. Péerò, pl. PìpéeròFiliya [town name]6,664 (1925 Meek); 20,000 (1973 SIL)Gombe State, Shongom LGA, around Filiya. 3 main villages: Gwandum, Gundale and Filiya.
Piya–Kwonci clusterPiya–KwonciPiaWurkum, Pitiko2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin)Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango
PiyaPiya–KwonciPiaWurkum
KwonciPiya–KwonciKunshenuMore than 4000 (1990)
GojiFo GojiNya Goji pl. Memme GojiKushe, KushiChong'e4000 (1973 SIL); 5000 (1990). ca. 20 villages (2007)Gombe State, Shongom LGA
KwaamiKafarati, ƊolliKwami, KwomKwáámìKwáámìKomawa10,000 (1990)Bauchi State, Kwami LGA
NyamNyamboloA single villageTaraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, at Andami village
TangaleTure, Kaltungo, Shongom, BilliriTangleTáŋlɛ̀Billiri36,000 (1952 W&B); 100,000 (1973 SIL)Gombe State, Kaltungo, Alkaleri and Akko LGAs

Literary Karekare

Standard Karekare has its origin in the 1950s, when Northern Region Literary Agency (NORLA) worked on the book Ndar Ma Karatu which is the earliest publication in Karekare published by Gaskiya Corporation.[4]

References
  1. Karekare at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. http://www.language-archives.org/language/kai
  3. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  4. Russeel G. Schuch; Yobe State Languages Research Project: aflang.humanities.ucla.edu/language-materials/chadic-languages/yobe/karekare
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