🇳🇬 Language

Igede

Evidence: Multiple sources

Igede is the language of the Igede people, spoken in Benue State, mainly in Oju LGA, and in Cross River State. It is an Idomoid language; its ISO 639-3 code is ige.

Key facts
Type
Language
Belongs to
Idomoid
ISO 639-3
ige
Glottocode
iged1239
Overview

Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages lists three dialects: Oju (central), Ito and Worku, plus Gabu in Ogoja LGA of Cross River State.

Connections
Other names
  • Igedde · spelling variant
    Also Egede, Egedde (Blench's Atlas).
Figures

Each figure is shown with its year and source. Where sources differ, all figures are listed.

MeasureFigureYearSource
Speakers 120,000 (estimate) 1982 An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition)
Speakers 70,000 (other) 1952 An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition)
Sources
  1. Glottolog 5.3 — languoid catalogue — Glottolog (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology) · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Igede iged1239, ISO ige, Idomoid
  2. An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Igede: Benue State, Oju, Otukpo and Okpokwu LGAs; Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
  3. Igede people — Wikipedia · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Igede language also spoken in Cross River State

Last updated 24 September 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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