Igbanke: A Nigerian Language
Discover the sounds and stories of Igbanke, a tonal language spoken in Edo State, Nigeria. Explore its unique linguistic features and cultural significance.
Nigeria has 36 states, one of which is Edo state, where the Igbanke community can be found.
Oro Efe Masks Emerging from the Sacred Forest (1993) by Carol Beckwith & Angela FisherAfrican Ceremonies
Igbo or Edo?
The Igbanke people are neither Igbo nor Edo, but display a hybrid admixture of elements from both cultures. Their language is Igboid, belonging to the Ika dialect cluster of that family, but highly influenced by the Edo Bini language and culture through trade and contact.
Igbanke is a tonal language -- like many Niger Congo languages. This means that inflections in pitch height can be used to convey shades of meaning, and sometimes also ambiguity.
Benin influence
Though an Igboid language, Igbanke has considerable Edo (Bini) impact, as can be seen in the hybrid admixture of its vocabulary. Some speakers associate themselves with Bini or Igbo, depending on their political, filial, or cultural orientation.
Though their homeland is in Edo State, Igbanke people can be found in other parts of Nigeria, taking their language with them wherever they go.
Gilberto Gil com personalidades africanas durante excursão à República do Benim (Janeiro de 1987)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Igbanke Speakers
There are about 23000 speakers of Igbanke, which makes it an endangered language. Its orthography is not formal, so it doesn't have an extensive literary corpora. It's spoken mostly as a second (or sometimes third) language.
Benson Eluma and Benaiah Eluma contributed to this story.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.