Volta–Niger languages in the context of "Ethnic groups of Africa"

Play Trivia Questions online!

 or

Skip to study material about Volta–Niger languages in the context of "Ethnic groups of Africa"
Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Volta–Niger languages

The Volta–Niger family of languages, also known as West Benue–Congo or East Kwa, is one of the branches of the Niger–Congo language family, with perhaps 70 million speakers. Among these are the most important languages of southern Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and southeast Ghana: Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, and Gbe.

These languages have variously been placed within the Kwa or Benue–Congo families or, starting in the 1970s, combined with them altogether. Williamson & Blench (2000) separate the languages here called Volta-Niger from the others. Güldemann (2018) fails to see clear criteria for dividing the languages into two or three families and maintains the broad grouping and name of Benue-Kwa for all them.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

👉 Volta–Niger languages in the context of Ethnic groups of Africa

The ethnic groups of Africa number in the thousands, with each ethnicity generally having their own language (or dialect of a language) and culture. The ethnolinguistic groups include various Afroasiatic, Khoisan, Niger-Congo, and Nilo-Saharan populations.

The official population count of the various ethnic groups in Africa is highly uncertain due to limited infrastructure to perform censuses, and due to rapid population growth. Some groups have alleged that there is deliberate misreporting in order to give selected ethnicities numerical superiority (as in the case of Nigeria's Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo peoples).

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier

Volta–Niger languages in the context of Volta–Congo

Volta–Congo is a major branch of the Atlantic–Congo family. It includes all Atlantic–Congo except the families of the erstwhile Atlantic and Kordofanian branches and possibly Senufo.

In the infobox at the right, the languages which appear to be the most divergent (including the dubious Senufo) are placed at the top, whereas those closer to the core (the similar "Benue–Kwa" branches of Kwa, Volta–Niger and Benue–Congo) are near the bottom. If the Kwa or Savannas branches prove to be invalid, the tree will be even more crowded.

↑ Return to Menu
LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Ethnic groups of Africa ← List of ethnic groups of Africa ← Ethnic groups in Africa ← Africans ← Volta–Congo
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Niger–Congo languages → Nigeria → Benin → Togo → Ghana → Yoruba language → Igbo language → Edo language → Gbe language → Kwa languages → Benue–Congo languages →