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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Cameroon > Mesaka

Mesaka

A language of Cameroon

ISO 639-3: iyo

Population  14,000 (1982 SIL).
Region  South West Province, Manyu Division, on Nigeria border northeast of Akwaya, isolated.
Language map  Southwestern Cameroon, Enlarged Area, reference number 164
Alternate names   Banagere, Iyon, Messaga, Messaga-Ekol, Messaka, Ugare
Dialects  Batomo (Babasi). The Batomo dialect may be a separate language, or may be the same as Motomo (Oliti, Matchi), a dialect of Iceve-Maci [bec]. Lexical similarity: 70% with Tiv [tiv].
Classification  Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Tivoid
Language use  Also use Tiv or Cameroon Pidgin [wes].
Comments  ‘Banagere’ is the name used by the people for themselves, ‘Ugare’ for their language. ‘Mesaka’ is used by the government, ‘Iyon’ by the Tiv. Traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

REGNIER, Clark D., author. 1991. Tivoid survey of the Akwaya Sub-division, Manyu Division, Southwest Province.  Available online

REGNIER, Clark D.; STARR, Alan, authors. 2008. "Tivoid survey."  Available online