YAKA: a language of Central African Republic

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: AXK

ISO 639-2: bnt

Population	15,000 in CAR (1996). Population total both countries 30,000 (1985 Bahuchet).
Region	Nola, Bambio, Mbaïki, Mongoumba subprefectures, all along the Congo border in the forest. The Sangha River is the border with the Baka region. Also spoken in Congo.
Alternate names	AKA, NYOYAKA, BEKÁ, PYGMÉE DE MONGOUMBA, PYGMÉE DE LA LOBAYE, PYGMÉES DE LA SANGHAS, 'BABINGA', 'BAMBENGA'
Dialects	BEKA (GBAYAKA, BAYAKA, MOYAKA), NZARI.
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Ngando (C.10).
Comments	'Babinga' is derogatory. The people are 'Bayaka' or'Biaka'. Different from Baka, which is Ubangi. Pygmies. Forest. Hunter-gatherers. Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Congo

Language name	YAKA
Population	15,000 in Congo (1986 Cavalli-Storza).
Alternate names	AKA, BABINGA, BINGA, BEKA, MÒÁKA
Dialects	BASESE (EASTERN AKA), BAMBENZELE (WESTERN AKA).
Comments	Mraka is singular, Beka plural. Different from the Baka language of Cameroon and Gabon, which is Ubangi. There may be more than one pygmy language in Congo. Nomadic. Pygmies. Forest. Hunter-gatherers. Traditional religion. See main entry under CAR.