| Tiv | |
|---|---|
| Spoken in | southeast Nigeria |
| Native speakers | 2.2 million (1991) |
| Language family |
Niger–Congo
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tiv |
The Tiv language is spoken by over 2 million people in Nigeria, with a few speakers in Cameroon. Most of the Language's Nigerian speakers are found in Benue State of Nigeria. The language is also widely spoken in the Nigerian States of Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa as well as the FCT Abuja. It is part of the Southern Bantoid Tivoid family, a branch of Benue–Congo and ultimately of the Niger–Congo phylum.
The Tiv people have a tradition that is arranged in order of chiefs: 1st class chief (Tor Tiv) 2nd class chief (Ter) which is normally in charge of each local government traditional council. They also have 3rd class chiefs (Tyoor) incharge of Districts and Kindred Heads (Mbateregh) they also have Ator a Ukpande (Tax Collectors) they can also be called village heads.
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