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Boko, or Boo, is a Mande language of Benin and Nigeria.

Names

Boko is the best-known name of this language, but it is also known as Boo or by its Hausa exonym Busanci (also spelled Busanchi, Bussanci or Bussanchi).

The Boko people are one of two subgroups of the Bissa people, the other being the Busa people, who speak the Busa language. They are not a clan but a subgroup. They are neighbors to the Bariba people, who speak the Bariba language, a Gur language. The Bissa people proper speak the Bissa language, which is closely related to Boko.

Geographic distribution

Nigeria

In Nigeria, Boko is spoken in Borgu LGA of Niger State, in Bagudo LGA of Kebbi State, and in Baruten LGA of Kwara state. A number of Boko have migrated to other parts of Nigeria, including Abuja. The Boko people are referred to as Bussawa in Hausa.

Benin

In Benin, Boko is spoken in Alibori and Borgou departments (Segbana and Kalalé Comunes).

Classification

Boko language is the most populous of the Mande languages of Benin. It is part of the Eastern Mande group, which also includes several other languages spoken across the Volta River and the Borgu Kingdom, including Busa, Bissa, Samo, and Bokobaru.

Boko speakers also speak Busa, Bariba, Dendi, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulfulde, French, and English.

Orthography

Boko language has 25 letters (Aa, Bb, Dd, Ee, Ɛɛ, Ff, Gg, Gb gb, Ii, Kk, Kp kp, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Ɔɔ, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Yy, Zz).

Nasalised vowels are marked with a Tilde.

High tones are marked with an acute accent and low tones are marked with a grave accent.

References

1. Boko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

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