Bacama

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
bcy
Alternate Names
Abacama, Bachama, Bashamma, Besema, Bwareba, Bwatiye, Gboare
Population

150,000 (1992 CAPRO). Central Bwatiye speakers are ethnically Bata.

Location

Adamawa State, Lamurde, Numan, Demsa, Gombi, and Guyuk LGAs; Kaduna State, northeast of Kaduna town; Kogi State, confluence of Benue and Niger rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, Biu-Mandara, A, A.8
Dialects

Central Bwatiye (Demsa, Demsa Bata), Mulyen (Mulwyin, Mwulyin), Opalo (Opolo), Wa-Duku. In Bata dialect subgroup. Bacama and Central Bwatiye [bcy] 54%–68% of non-riverine Bata [bta] dialects (Furo and Song); Upriver dialects have contact with downriver dialects due to fishing practices. Lexical similarity: Bacama [bcy] 89% with Central Bwatiye [bcy], 81% with Njoboliyo [bta], 86% with Furo [bta], 84% with Song Bata [bta].

Language Development
Poetry. Newspapers. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1915.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bacama
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Bacama fishermen migrate long distances down the Benue River with camps as far as the confluence. Bacama are joined with the Bata [bta] in the Bwatiye Association. Christian, Muslim.