cLela is a language of Niger State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Kainji (Western Kainji: Northwestern).
- Type
- Language
- Belongs to
- Kainji
- Glottocode
- clel1238
cLela is a language of Niger State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Kainji (Western Kainji: Northwestern). The Atlas places it mainly in Zuru, Sakaba and Wasagu LGAs of Kebbi State, around Zuru town, and in Rijau LGA of Niger State. Other names include Lelna, Dakarkari, Lalawa. Speaker figures in the Atlas: 47,000 (1949); 69,000 (1971). Its dialects are Zuru and Ribah; a reader appeared in 1934 and scripture portions from 1931.
- Dakarkari
- Lalawa
- Lelna
- 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-CLELA · Last updated 7 October 2026.
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