🇳🇬 Language

Dibo

Evidence: Well documented

Dibo is a language of Niger State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Nupoid.

Type
Language
Belongs to
Nupoid
Glottocode
dibo1247

Dibo is a language of Niger State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Nupoid. The Atlas places it in Lapai LGA, in the Federal Capital Territory and in Nassarawa LGA of Nasarawa State. Other names include Ganagana, Ganagawa, Zitako, Shitako. Speaker figures in the Atlas: 18,200 (1931); more than 100,000 (1990 estimate). The Atlas notes that an unknown number of Dibo living among the Gbari no longer speak the language.

  • Ganagana · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.C: other name, also used of the people.
  • Ganagawa · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.C: other name, also used of the people.
  • Shitako · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.B: other name for the language.
  • Zitako · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.B: other name for the language.
  1. An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · Academic source · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Dibo: location, classification, other names, speakers
  2. Glottolog language index (resourcemap) — Glottolog · Academic source · link (accessed 26 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Glottocode dibo1247
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-DIBO · Last updated 7 October 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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