The Kambari
languages
The Kambari are perhaps the largest of the Kainji subgroups, numerically. Their languages have been studied more extensively than others in the group although much research has never been completely published. Kambari (Kamberi, Cumbri etc.) is an outsiders’ name, but since there is no overall name for the group it is retained here. Present studies suggest that Kambari has two major divisions, usually referred to as Kambari I and II. These crudely correspond to east and west, but in some regions the two are territorially intertwined (Blench 1982).
Table 1 shows the common names of the various Kambari sub-groups and the correct names of the people and language. The initial consonant of the root is marked with upper case.
Table 1. The Kambari languages |
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Usual Name |
Other Names |
One person |
People |
Language |
Kambari I |
|
|
|
|
Agadi |
Kakihum |
|
aGaɗi |
ts |
Abadi, Evadi |
Ibeto |
|
aVaɗi |
|
Bangawa |
|
vuBaangi |
aBaangi |
ciBaangi |
|
Salka |
sShíngíní or məShíngíní |
əShingini |
ciShingini |
Kambari II |
|
|
|
|
Agaushi |
Auna, Wara |
|
aGaushi |
ts |
Kimba |
|
|
aKimba |
Tsɨkimba |
Ngwunci |
Agwara |
maWunci |
ŋWənci |
tsuWənci |
|
|
|
|
|
Cicipu |
|
|
|
|
Figure 1 gives a tentative subclassification of the Kambari cluster;
Figure 1. Subclassification of the Kambari languages