Nzema | |
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Region | Ghana, Ivory Coast |
Ethnicity | Nzema |
Native speakers | 430,000 (2013–2021)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-2 | nzi |
ISO 639-3 | nzi |
Glottolog | nzim1238 |
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.