Kamwe language

Kamwe is a Chadic language spoken in Adamawa State, Borno State in Nigeria and North Western Cameroon.

The Kamwe people and language are sometimes called Higi (Higgi). Kamwe elders say this is a derogatory name, given to the Kamwe by their relatives the Margi, that literally means "grasshopper". The Margi first called the Kamwe people "Higi" in 1924.^[4]

In Nigeria about 80 percent of Kamwe are found in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State Nigeria, a substantial number of them are also found in the local government areas of Mubi North, Hong, Gombi, Song and Madagali in Adamawa State. The Kamwe people are also found in Borno State, especially in Askira/Uba and Gwoza local government areas.

Dialects

Kamwe dialects include Nkafa, Dakwa, Krghea (sometimes called Higgi Fali), Fwea, Humsi, Modi, Sina, and Tilyi; Blench (2006) considers Psikye to be another.^[5] Nkafa is well understood by all and is widely spoken, being the main language of administration and commerce, and having a literary tradition. It is natively spoken by the clans of Kwache, Kwaga, Kwabe, Kwaya and Kwaghe. The other Nkafa clans are Kwaha and Kwabuggi. (The Nkafa clans are said to descend from brothers [from the same mother] who migrated to Nkafamiya together from Ghye. Other dialects of Kamwe are also divided into clans. For example, Tlowou is spoken by the clans Mbammi, Nyahuo, Nka, Zharawa, Towoo, Ngulvi and Mihalyi.

People

Most Kamwe identify themselves with Mwe-ci-ka (Michika), the ancestral home of all Kamwe people. Kamwe literally means people of the "Heavenly realms or people of the Rocks and Hill". The Kamwe people believe in a heavenly God called 'Hyalatamwe' Communication with Hyalatamwe directly is not possible in Kamwe culture. Hyalatamwe is revered and feared. Communication with him has to be through intermediaries called "Da melie or Tchuhye shwa" In the Kamwe culture, caste system does exist as the Kamwe race is broadly classified into 'Melie and Ka-Ligyi'. The founder of Michika (Mwe-ci-ka) was said to be one Kwada Kwakaa, a prince from Kuli in Nkafamiya on the hills of Michika. Kwada Kwakaa was said to be a warrior hunter who could hunt lions and leopards just by himself. When his father, who was the King in Nkafamiya, got to know that Kwada was 'kwa' 'kaa',{{^[6]}} he mandated Kwada to be the ruler in the present day Michika.

A first-born male child is named Tizhe, a first-born female child Kuve. The first ten children in Kamwe culture are named as follows:- First male child is Tizhe, the female child is Kuve. The second male child is Zira, the female is Masi. The third male child is Tumba, the female is Kwarramba, the fourth male child is Vandi, the female is Kwanye. The fifth child is Kwaji whether male or female. The sixth child is Tari for male and Kwata for female. The seventh child is sini for male and Kwasini for female. The eight child is Kwada for both male and Female. The ninth child is Drambi for both the male and female. The tenth child is called Kwatri for both the male and female child. Subsequently any other child will have a suffix "hale" attached to the name signifying that the child was born in old age of the mother. Example is Kuve-hale or Zira-hale as the case may be. Twins or multiple births are celebrated in Kamwe culture.

Notes

Languages of Nigeria Official languages English National languages Hausa Igbo Yoruba Recognised languages Edo Tiv Fulani Idoma Ijaw Kanuri Indigenous languages   Indigenous languages (ordered by state) Adamawa Baa Bacama Bali Bata Boga Bura Chamba Leko Daba Daka Donga Fali of Mubi Ga'anda Gaa Gude Gudu Holma Huba Hwana Hya Kamwe Kanakuru Kirya-Konzəl Kofa Koma Kpasam Kugama Kumba Lamang Longuda Margi Margi South Mumuye Ngwaba Nyong Nzanyi Psikyɛ Sukur Taram Teme Tso Vere Waja Wom Yendang Zizilivakan Akwa Ibom Ibibio Bauchi Ɓeele Bole Bure Ciwogai Dass Dazawa Deno Dikaka Dulbu Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Guruntum Jalaa Jarawa Jimi Karekare Kariya Kir-Balar Kubi Kushi Kutto Kwaami Labir Longuda Mangas Mawa Mburku Miya Pa'a Piya Polci Shiki Siri Sur Tso Warji Zangwal Zumbun Bayelsa Izon Southeast Ijo Benué Eggon Igede Borno Afade Bura Cibak Cineni Dghwede Glavda Gude Guduf-Gava Gvoko Jara Jilbe Kamwe Kanakuru Lamang Maaka Mafa Margi Margi South Nggwahyi Putai Tera Wandala Yedina Cross River Abanyom Anaang Efik Mbe Mbembe Delta Igala Ika Izon Edo Afenmai Igala Itsekiri Gombe Awak Bangwinji Bole Dadiya Jara Kamo Ngamo Pero Tangale Tera Tula Waja Jigawa Bade Teshenawa Kaduna Bacama Cori Eggon Kurama Sambe Kano Ɗuwai Kurama Kebbi Cipu Damakawa Kogi Basa-Benue Igala Nupe Oworo Kwara Kakanda Kupa Nupe Nasarawa Ake Alumu Basa-Benue Duhwa Eggon Hasha Jili Toro Niger Asu Bariba Cipu Gwandara Jijili Kakanda Nupe Pongu Ondo Itsekiri Izon Ukaan Plateau Barkul Boghom Bole Cakfem-Mushere Dass Fyam Fyer Goemai Horom Jorto Koenoem Kofyar Kulere Miship Montol Mundat Mwaghavul Ngas Pe Pyapun Ron Sha Sur Tal Tambas Tarok Yankam Yiwom Rivers Abua Baan Biseni Defaka Degema Ekpeye Eleme Engenni Gokana Ijaw Ikwerre Kalabari Khana Kugbo Nkoroo O’chi’chi Obolo Obulom Odual Ogba Ogbogolo Ogbronuagum Ogoni Okodia Oruma Tee Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni Taraba Baissa Fali Bete Buru Dadiya Donga Kholok Kpati Laka Lufu Mumuye Nyam Nyingwom Pangseng Rang Tarok Waja Waka Yendang Yoti Yobe Bade Bole Ɗuwai Karekare Ngamo Ngizim Sign languages Nigerian Sign Language Bura Sign Language Hausa Sign Language Scripts Pan-Nigerian alphabet Nigerian braille

References

• Roger Mohrlang. 1972. Higi Phonology. Studies in Nigerian Languages 2. Zaria: Institute of Linguistics and Centre for the Study of Nigerian Languages.