₦airaland Forum

Did you know that Bauchi State alone has more than 50 times the number of distinct languages spoken in a state like Abia or Imo? In a country with over 500 languages, what does this stark contrast in linguistic diversity, from 106 languages in one state to just 1 in another, reveal about the historical migrations, cultural concentrations, and political dynamics of Nigeria?
To enrich our discussion, please share other languages or states with unique linguistic facts in the comments below!

NIGERIAN STATES WITH THE LEAST LANGUAGES — 2024

1 🟢Abia — 1 [Igbo]
2 🟢Enugu — 1 [Igbo]
2 🟢Imo — 1 [Igbo]
3 🟣Osun — 1 [Yoruba]
4 🟣Oyo — 1 [Yoruba]
5 🟢Anambra — 2 [Igbo & Igala]
6 🟣Ekiti — 2 [Yoruba & Ahan]
7 🔴Kano — 2 [Hausa & Fulfulde]
8 🔴Katsina — 2 [Hausa & Fulfulde]
9 🟣Lagos — 2 [Yoruba & Egun/Ogu]
10 🟣Ogun — 2 [Yoruba & Egun/Ogu]
11 🔴Sokoto — 2 [Hausa & Fulfulde]

🔴NW 🟢SE 🟣SW

NIGERIAN STATES WITH THE MOST LANGUAGES — 2024

1 ⚫️Bauchi — 106
2 ⚫️Adamawa — 77
3 ⚫️Taraba — 61
4 🟠Plateau — 57
5 🔴Kaduna — 56
6 ⚫️Gombe — 27
7 🟠Nasarawa — 23
8 ⚫️Borno — 22
9 🟤Rivers — 20
10 🟠Kogi — 12
11 🟤Cross river — 11
12 🟠Benue — 10

⚫️NE 🟠NC 🔴NW 🟤SS

#Statisense
(National Library of Nigeria)

Please verify information before sharing fake data

DrMB:
Did you know that Bauchi State alone has more than 50 times the number of distinct languages spoken in a state like Abia or Imo? How can a country with over 500 languages, what does this stark contrast in linguistic diversity, from 106 languages in one state to just 1 in another, reveal about the historical migrations, cultural concentrations, and political dynamics of Nigeria?

Statisence should correct itself.

In Lagos the 4 indigenous languages being spoken are
Yoruba, Awori, Ijebu and Egun.

You won't be forgiven when you make such obvious mistake again

That's why we have been unable to understand ourselves as there are conflicting languages in Nigeria

Interesting.

Many people don't know that Igala is a tribe in Anambra, although most of them speak Igbo language but they are still acknowledged and have a good number working in the state Civil service sector and security agencies.
Same is applicable to Enugu state which have Idoma/Igala communities in Nsukka zone of the state.
Anambra Govt radio stations and TV have Igala language program times, Igbos don't suppress people but always ready to tap from your areas of strength to improve themselves.
Some of the popular masquerades in Igbo land were copied from Igala and Efik/Ibibio cultures

Ttalk:
Statisence should correct itself.

In Lagos the 4 indigenous languages being spoken are
Yoruba, Awori, Ijebu and Egun.

You won't be forgiven when you made such obvious mistake again

Ijebu, Egba, Awori are not distinct languages, they are ethnic groups not tribes

Ttalk:
Statisence should correct itself.

In Lagos the 4 indigenous languages being spoken are
Yoruba, Awori, Ijebu and Egun.

You won't be forgiven when you made such obvious mistake again

Yoruba, Awori and Ijebu, as how? All these are dialects of the same original language from Ife. We all speak Yoruba but with different dialects.

Osun is not one... There's Ijesha and Igbona and some others I can't remember at the moment. They are yoruba but a different dialect.

Lumping them up under 'yoruba' is oversimplification.

I disagree with this. No state in Nigeria has just 1 or 2 tribes.

Spandau:
Yoruba, Awori and Ijebu, as how? All these are dialects of the same original language from Ife. We all speak Yoruba but with different dialects.

Exactly, people mistake dialects for languages.

Who are those speaking those languages in Bauchi?
I don’t believe the stat.
Where are they living?
What is the name of their language?

Not true. There are up to 50 spoken languages in Cross River if not more.

helinues:
That's why we have been unable to understand ourselves as there are conflicting languages in Nigeria

Ironically, our failing to understand our "conflicting languages" shows we fail to tap into the greatest natural resources of the power of "Unity in Diversity".

United States, United Arab Emirate, United Kingdom, even China is country with diverse cultures (Like many small japanese), imaging where we would have been if we are united, when will this country wake up?

Most of what we call languages are actually variants or dialects of an existing language.

Most times, the people speaking these dialects want to be recognised as being a unique & autonomous people & therefore claim that what they are speaking is a distinct language.

Even the guy below👇 wants to be recognised as one individual with his own language.

I am working assiduously to develop my own language.I want to be recognized and stand alone.

Guyman02:
Many people don't know that Igala is a tribe in Anambra, although most of them speak Igbo language but they are still acknowledged and have a good number working in the state Civil service sector and security agencies.
Same is applicable to Enugu state which have Idoma/Igala communities in Nsukka zone of the state.
Anambra Govt radio stations and TV have Igala language program times, Igbos don't suppress people but always ready to tap from your areas of strength to improve themselves.
Some of the popular masquerades in Igbo land were copied from Igala and Efik cultures

Really? I am just hearing this for the first time. Hmnn...

Abia State boasts a significant presence of Ibibio/Efik speakers, ranging from 5% to 10%. In many Igbo communities within the state, a dynamic interchange of languages, notably Igbo, Efik, and Ibibio, is common. This linguistic blending arises from the strong intermarriage ties with neighbouring Akwa-Cross communities.

Very poor and lazy job.

What about Delta state?

xyz

Which one is Ahan assigned to Ekiti

Which language is that

All I know is that Nigeria has over 500 languages across

erad:
Osun is not one... There's Ijesha and Igbona and some others I can't remember at the moment. They are yoruba but a different dialect.

Lumping them up under 'yoruba' is oversimplification.

They speak the same Yoruba language but different dialect, which can be understand by every Yoruba speaker.

Mynd44:
Ijebu, Egba, Awori are not distinct languages, they are ethnic groups not tribes

Yes language as used in the context by Satisense means dialect.

Saying Egba is indigenous to Lagos dialect is like saying Ilaje is indigenous dialect in Lagos.

We have fringes of these dialects here and there but they are too minute to be taken as one of the main dialect.

However the most closely related dialect among the dialects are Ijebu, Awori and Egba

Finally we are eating statistics by fire by force bur the statistics doesn't filled the stomach, that's why many are hungry in their homes

Mynd44:
Ijebu, Egba, Awori are not distinct languages, they are ethnic groups not tribes

Awori is an ethnic group as well as a dialect just like Egba and Ijebu

Complete fake data.
Do u know how many languages we have in delta state?

Guyman02:
Many people don't know that Igala is a tribe in Anambra, although most of them speak Igbo language but they are still acknowledged and have a good number working in the state Civil service sector and security agencies.
Same is applicable to Enugu state which have Idoma/Igala communities in Nsukka zone of the state.
Anambra Govt radio stations and TV have Igala language program times, Igbos don't suppress people but always ready to tap from your areas of strength to improve themselves.
Some of the popular masquerades in Igbo land were copied from Igala and Efik cultures

You are right for the most part. Igala people are also in Kogi, which shares a boundary with Anambra and Enugu state too. In fact, one of the popular Onitsha masquerades called Mmuo Ogololo was copied from Igala people. Some deities in Onitsha was copied from Igala people.

erad:
Osun is not one... There's Ijesha and Igbona and some others I can't remember at the moment. They are yoruba but a different dialect.

Lumping them up under 'yoruba' is oversimplification.

They're not talking about dialect. They are talking of LANGUAGE. Ijesha is still an arm of Yoruba.

helinues:
That's why we have been unable to understand ourselves as there are conflicting languages in Nigeria

You think all natives of England speak the same language?

You know number of language speak in Switzerland?

Do you know number of languages speak in China?

helinues:
That's why we have been unable to understand ourselves as there are conflicting languages in Nigeria

That's a lie.

The division is clearly intentional. There are countries outside Africa with more languages and they're doing just fine.

Ah.. it's all confusing to discuss. But know this. The main problem of the nation has very little to do with ethnicity..

Mynd44:
Ijebu, Egba, Awori are not distinct languages, they are ethnic groups not tribes

Correct your statement. Maybe tribes or clans but definitely not ethnic group.

Ikwerre is just a tribe like Aworis and Ijebus.