Nzema language

Nzema
RegionGhana, Ivory Coast
EthnicityNzema
Native speakers
430,000 (2013–2021)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-2nzi
ISO 639-3nzi
Glottolognzim1238

Nzema, also known as Nzima or Appolo, is a Central Tano language spoken by the Nzema people of southwestern Ghana and southeastern Ivory Coast.[2] It is partially intelligible with Jwira-Pepesa and is closely related to Baoulé.[3]

Although it is a Bia language, Nzema is also one of the many Akan languages, and it has had considerable influence from other Akan languages, especially Twi and Fante.[4] There are notable towns in Nzemaland such as Bonyere, Nkroful, Half Assini, Axim, Eikwe, Baku, Atuabo, Beyin and Essiama.

  1. ^ Nzema at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ "Nzema". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  3. ^ Burmeister, Jonathan L. (1976). "A comparison of variable nouns in Anyi-Sanvi and Nzema". Annales de l'Université d'Abidjan. H (Linguistique 9): 7–19.
  4. ^ Berry, J. (1955). "Some Notes on the Phonology of the Nzema and Ahanta Dialects". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 17 (1): 160–165. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00106421. ISSN 1474-0699.