Cross River

Cross River languages are spoken primarily in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers State. There are about 60 languages classified in two sub-groups: Bendi and Delta-Cross. The largest members are Ibibio, Efik, and Anaang.

The following classification of the Cross River languages is taken from Crozier and Blench (1992):

a.
Bendi
i.
Bekwarra
ii.
Bete-Bendi
iii.
Obanliku cluster (incl. Basang, Bebi, Bishiri, Bisu, and Busi)
iv.
Ukpe-Bayobiri
v.
Ubang
vi.
Alege
vii.
Obe cluster (incl. Obe, Afrike, Utugwang, Okworogung, and Okworotung)
viii.
Bumaji
ix.
Bokyi

b.
Delta-Cross
i.
Central Delta
a
Abua
Odual
b
Kugbo
Mini
Kolo cluster (incl. Kolo, Oloib,.iri, and Anyama)
Ogbronuagum
Obulom
Ogbogolo
ii.
Ogoni
a
Eleme
Ban
b
Kana
Gokana
iii.
Lower Cross
a
Central
Anaang
Efai
Efik
Ekit
Etebi
Ibibio
Ibuoro
Itu Mon Uzo
Nkari
Ukwa
b
Ebughu
c
Enwang
Uda
d
Ibino
e
Iko
f
Ilue
g
Obolo
h
Okobo
i
Oro
j
Usakade (in Cameroon)
iv.
Upper Cross group
a.
Central
i.
North-South
a
Oring cluster (incl. Ufia, Ufiom, and Okpoto)
Kukele
Uzekwe
b
Ubaghara cluster (incl. Biakpan, Ikun, Etono, Ugbem, and Utuma)
Kohumono
Agwagwune cluster (also incl. Erei, Abini, Adim, Abayongo, and Etono II)
Umon
ii.
East-West
a
Olulumo-Ikom
b
Lokaa
Nkukoli
Lubila
c
Mbembe
Legbo
Leyigha
Lenyima
b.
Ukpet-Ehom
c.
Agoi
Doko-Uyanga
Bakpinka
d.
Kiong
Korop
Odut

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Dr. Uwe Seibert

Department of Languages and Linguistics
Faculty of Arts
University of Jos

Email address: seibertu@unijos.edu.ng

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