Bariba language
Bariba, also known as Baatonum (also Baatombu, Baatonu, Barba, Baruba, Berba and a number of various other names and spellings), is the language of the Bariba people of Benin and Nigeria and was the language of the state of Borgu. It is primarily spoken in Benin, but also across the border in adjacent Kwara State and Niger State, Nigeria, and some Bariba are in Togo and Burkina Faso. Welmers (1952) reported the Bariba language as spoken in the cities of Nikki, Parakou, Kandi, and Natitingou. Names The language can be known by different names: the Bariba people call their language Baatɔnum; the Yoruba people call the language Baruba; the Hausa people refer to the language as Borganci (also spelled Borganchi) after Borgu where it is spoken; the names in the Busa language and the Boko language are Borgu and Borgunya. Other names include Barba or Berba. One person who speaks Bariba is called Baatɔnu and two or more persons or speakers are called Baatɔmbu and the language of the Baatɔmbu/Borgawa people is called Baatɔnum. Geographic distribution In Nigeria, Bariba is spoken mainly in Borgu LGA of Niger State and in Baruten LGA of Kwara state. A number of Bariba have