Bata is a language spoken in Numan, Song and Fufore LGAs of Adamawa State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Chadic (Biu–Mandara A: Bata group, Bata cluster).
- Type
- Language
- Belongs to
- Biu–Mandara
- Glottocode
- bata1314
Bata is a language spoken in Numan, Song and Fufore LGAs of Adamawa State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Chadic (Biu–Mandara A: Bata group, Bata cluster). Other names include Batta, Gbwata. The Atlas also names Mubi LGA, since divided into Mubi North and Mubi South. It is also spoken in Cameroon. The Atlas cites speaker figures of 26,400 (1952), with an estimated 2,000 in Cameroon; 39,000 in total (Welmers 1971). Its dialects include Koboci, Wadi, Zumu (Jimo), Malabu, Bata of Ribaw, Bata of Demsa, Bata of Garoua and Jirai.
Adamawa State · Numan · Song · Fufore
Bata
- Batta
- Gbwata
- An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · link
- Glottolog language index (resourcemap) — Glottolog · link
How evidence is graded
- Verified: Supported by an official source, or by two or more independent sources that agree.
- Well documented: Supported by credible sources, but not yet independently confirmed.
- Reported: Found in a credible source; further corroboration is welcome.
- Needs corroboration: The evidence is thin or incomplete; more sources are being sought.
- Disputed: Credible sources or community accounts disagree; the differing accounts are noted.
- Uncertain: There is not yet enough information to classify this responsibly.
Sources are marked official, academic, reference, community or general web. Sources that copy each other count as one. Oral traditions are recorded as traditions, not as proven fact.
Archive ID: LANG-BATA · Last updated 30 September 2026.
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