🇳🇬 Language

Jili (Migili)

Evidence: Well documented

Jili (Migili) is a language spoken in Lafia and Awe LGAs of Nasarawa State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Plateau (Southern group; Jilic).

Key facts
Type
Language
Belongs to
Plateau
Glottocode
liji1238
Overview

Jili (Migili) is a language spoken in Lafia and Awe LGAs of Nasarawa State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Plateau (Southern group; Jilic). Other names include Migili, Megili; Lijili; Koro of Lafia. The Atlas names the state as Plateau, as it was before Nasarawa State was created in 1996. The Atlas cites speaker figures of 50,000 (UBS 1985). The New Testament appeared in 1987.

Connections
Other names
  • Koro of Lafia · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.B: other name for the language.
  • Lijili · endonym
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.B: the speakers' own name for the language.
  • Megili · spelling variant
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.A: alternate spelling of the name.
  • Migili · spelling variant
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.A: alternate spelling of the name.
Sources
  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: Jili (Migili): location, classification, other names, speakers
  2. Glottolog language index (resourcemap) — Glottolog · Academic source · link (accessed 26 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Glottocode liji1238
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-JILI-MIGILI · Last updated 26 September 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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