Bissa | |
---|---|
Bisa, Busansi | |
Bɩsa | |
Region | Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo |
Ethnicity | Bissa people |
Native speakers | (590,000 cited 1999–2003) [1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | bib |
Glottolog | biss1248 |
Majority areas of northern dialects of Bissa, in dark blue, on a map of Burkina Faso. |
Bissa | |
---|---|
Person | Bɩsan |
People | Bɩsanno |
Language | Bɩsa |
Total population | |
---|---|
1.7 million | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Burkina Faso | approx 6.8 million |
Ghana | 1.1 million |
Togo | 3,356 |
Languages | |
Bissa, French | |
Religion | |
Islam African Traditional Religion | |
Related ethnic groups | |
other Mandé peoples |
Bissa (or Bisa (singular), Bisan, Bissanno (plural)), is a Mande ethnic group of south-central Burkina Faso, northeastern Ghana and the northernmost tip of Togo. Their language, Bissa, [2] is a Mande language that is related to, but not the same as, a cluster of languages in the old Borgu Kingdom area of Northeast Benin and Northwest Nigeria, including Busa, Boko, and Kyenga. An alternate name for the Bissa is Busansi which is used by the Mossi people and Kusasi people or Busanga.
The word Bissa in the language itself is river. The Bissa people refer to themselves as Bissano, which means People by the river. This can be seen in their settlement structures since they mostly live by the river side and engage in a lot of farming activities.
Bissa is a language similar to Moré, otherwise known as Mossi. That is because Mossi people share common ancestry with the Bissa people. A common folktale explaining the existence of the Mossi is that a Bissa hunter and a Ghanaian princess married. They are believed to be the ancestors of the Mossi.
Some Bissa live in Ivory Coast.
The name is usually spelled Bissa. It can also be spelled Bisa, and the name in the Mossi language is Busansi (Singular) or Busanga (Plural); This should not be confused with the Bisa language of Zambia or the Busa language of Nigeria and Benin.
In Burkina Faso, Bissa is spoken in Boulgou, Koulpélogo, and Kouritenga Provinces of the Centre-Est Region, in Bazaga and Zoundwéogo Provinces of the Centre–Sud Region (Garango, Gomboussougou, Zabré, and Tenkodogo Cities), and in the Boudry Department of Ganzargou Province of the Plateau-Central Region.
In Ghana, Bissa is spoken in Bawku Municipal District of the Upper East Region.
In Togo, Bissa is spoken in Tône Prefecture of the Savanes Region. There are also some Bissa speakers in Ivory Coast.
Bissa language is the most populous of the Mande languages of Ghana and Togo. It is part of the Eastern Mande group, which also includes several other languages spoken across the Volta River and the Borgu Kingdom, including Boko, Busa, Samo, and Bokobaru.
Bissa has three dialect:
The most widely spoken dialects of Bissa are Barka and Lebir.
To the East the Bissa people speak Barka/Baraka. To The West people speak Lebir/Zeba. To the North the Lere dialect is used. To the South, there is no specifics dialect.
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Close | i , ĩ | u | |
Near-close | ɪ , ɪ̃ | ʊ , ʊ̃ | |
Close-mid | e | o | |
Open-mid | ɛ , ɛ̃ | ɐ , ɐ̃ | ɔ , ɔ̃ |
Open | a , ã |
Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |
Plosive | voiceless | p | t | k | |
voiced | b | d | ɡ | ||
Fricative | voiceless | f | s | ||
voiced | v | z | |||
Approximant | l | j | w | ||
Trill | r |
High tone is marked with an Acute accent and low tone is marked with a Grave accent. The following is the alphabet of the Lere and Lebir dialects of Bissa:
A | B | C | D | E | Ǝ | Ɛ | F | G | H | I | Ɩ | J | K | L | M | N | Ny | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | V | W | Y | Z |
a | b | c | d | e | ǝ | ɛ | f | g | h | i | ɩ | j | k | l | m | n | ny | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | v | w | y | z |
The following is the alphabet of the Barka dialect of Bissa:
A | B | D | E | Ɛ | Ǝ | F | G | H | I | Ɩ | K | L | M | N | Ɲ | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | W | Y | Z |
a | b | d | e | ɛ | ə | f | g | h | i | ɩ | k | l | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | w | y | z |
Phrase | Lere | Barka | Lebir |
---|---|---|---|
Good morning | Domireh ki | Idomleki | |
come | bur | iahh | Eyaham |
water | pi | hi | |
food | forbile | hobile |
The Busa and Boko peoples, two subgroups of the Bissa people, live in Northwestern Nigeria and Northern Benin near Borgu in the Nigerian States of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara (mostly Bokobaru subgroup) and in the Beninese Departments of Alibori and Borgou.
They speak Busa (also known as Bisã) and Boko (also known as Boo). This peoples are referred to as Bussawa in Hausa.
The Clan | Appellations |
---|---|
Pagou | Nombre/Ziginni |
Gassuogou | Yaalah |
Tangari | Lengani |
Tangaré | Lingani |
Garango | Bambara |
Tunugu | Saare |
Bussim | Guerm/Guerne |
Sandugu | Zeba |
Lergu | Jinko |
Ziglah | Bandau |
Pakala | Billa |
Tuuro | Dabre |
Woono | Zaare |
Saawunno | Nyenni |
Chenno | Yabre |
Bura | Zuure |
Saarugu | Saare |
Muungo | Gamine |
Kayo | Gampine |
Bugula | Darga |
Gulagun | Nombone |
Yiringu | Galbane |
Lengi | Monnie |
Kadpugu | Yankini |
Ganni | Samandulugu |
Jangani | Guengane |
Bedega | Wandaago |
Leda | Zampaligidi |
Woono | Wango |
longa | Welgu/Keera |
Sasima | Daboni |
Zangila | Kidibari |
Kuu | Lenkoni |
Zaka | Boibani |
Hunzaawu | Zombra |
Bergu | Baara |
Nyaawu | Campaore |
Gulanda | Bayere |
leere | Zampoo |
Dansanga | Genni |
Somma | Zakaani |
Sominne | Senre/Sebene |
Gudu | Sewonner |
Sonno | Lembani |
Wargu | Bansi |
Tollah | Bansi |
Wanda | Gulla |
Dansanga | Genni |
Zhetta | Zesonni |
Koonteega | Yourda |
Bangu | Sambare |
Youngou | Gambo |
Gerrimah | Nyenni |
Kerimah | Ziigani |
Yakungu | Gengani |
Gangila | Nunkansi |
Kele | Gansani |
Tinga | Bidiga |
Bann | Zanni |
The Bissa people are divided into numerous clans. Their language differs slightly; dialects are Barka, Lere, and Lebir.
Most Bissa are Muslim and some are traditionalist. (Practices African Traditional religion). The Bissa of the Garango Circle are among the most representative of the north. The Garango township, which forms the center of the northern Bissa, remained independent, while the northwestern districts were under the tutelage of the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou and the northeastern townships under the supervision of the Mossi kingdom of Tenkodogo. In Accra, Ghana, some of the established and notable towns are Busanga line in the North Kaneshie area of the Okai Koi constituency. Other towns noted for their Bissa people are Town Council line or Lartebiokorshie and shukura in the Ablekuma central constituency, and Nima in Ayawaso central constituency. In Bissa's tribes, Lingani's are the holder of both the political power and the mystical power. The person that holds the power is not the one with the crown but the one that gives the crown. No one can access to the power and wear the crown prior being mystically prepared by the Lingani's in Tangaré village of Garango in the province of Boulgou (Burkina Faso). The Lingani's are hunters and the ceremonial fig tree with their ancestors' centenary hunting spear is still visible today near Tangaré mountain facing Lingani's familial house. Bissas live with their dead ancestors buried in front of their houses in order to honor them. Bissa burial sites are dug in shape of traditional building but underground with a small hole for the body entrance and the person that receives the body to lay him for rest. Several people can be buried in the same familial grave. The grave entrance is covered with a clay vase that can be removed for future burial. Barso the ancestor of the Bissas was a hunter. NOTE. Is from Bissa Bissam Baa Kamaji house.
Hausa is a Chadic language that is spoken by the Hausa people in the northern parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin and Togo, and the southern parts of Niger, and Chad, with significant minorities in Ivory Coast. A small number of speakers also exist in Sudan.
The Gur languages, also known as Central Gur or Mabia, belong to the Niger–Congo languages. They are spoken in the Sahelian and savanna regions of West Africa, namely: in most areas of Burkina Faso, and in south-central Mali, northeastern Ivory Coast, the northern halves of Ghana and Togo, northwestern Benin, and southwestern Niger. A few Gur languages are spoken in Nigeria. Additionally, a single Gur language, Baatonum, is spoken in Benin and in the extreme northwest of Nigeria. Three other single Gur languages, the Tusya, Vyemo and Tiefo languages, are spoken in Burkina Faso. Another unclassified Gur language, Miyobe, is spoken in Benin and Togo. In addition, Kulango, Loma and Lorhon, are spoken in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. Additionally, a few Mossi speakers are in Senegal, and speakers of the Dagaare language are also found in Cameroon. The Samu languages of Burkina Faso are Gur languages.
The Mande languages are a group of languages spoken in several countries in West Africa by the Mandé peoples. They include Maninka (Malinke), Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Kpelle, Jula (Dioula), Bozo, Mende, Susu, and Vai. There are around 60 to 75 languages spoken by 30 to 40 million people, chiefly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and also in southern Mauritania, northern Ghana, northwestern Nigeria and northern Benin.
The Mossi are a Gur ethnic group native to modern Burkina Faso, primarily the Volta River basin. The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, constituting 52% of the population, or about 11.1 million people. The other 48% of Burkina Faso's population is composed of more than 60 ethnic groups, mainly the Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Bissa and Fulani. The Mossi speak the Mòoré language.
Mooré, also called More or Mossi, is a Gur language of the Oti–Volta branch and one of four official languages of Burkina Faso. It is the language of the Mossi people, spoken by approximately 6.46 million people in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Mali, Togo and Senegal as a native language, but with many more L2 speakers. Mooré is spoken as a first or second language by over 50% of the Burkinabè population and is the main language in the capital city of Ouagadougou. It is closely related to Dagbani.
Bozo is a Mande language spoken by the Bozo people of the Inner Niger Delta in Mali. For Fishing, many Bozo are also found in other West African countries where there are Rivers and Dams, such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast. According to the 2000 census, the Bozo people number about 132,100. Bozo is considered a dialect cluster, but there is a quite a bit of diversity. Ethnologue recognises four languages on the basis of requirements for literacy materials. Bozo is part of the northwestern branch of the Mande languages; the closest linguistic relative is Soninke, a major language spoken in the northwestern section of southern Mali, in eastern Senegal, and in southern Mauritania. The Bozo often speak one or more regional languages such as Bambara, Fula, or Western Songhay. The language is tonal, with three lexical tones.
The individual member states of the African Union (AU) coordinate foreign policy through this agency, in addition to conducting their own international relations on a state-by-state basis. The AU represents the interests of African peoples at large in intergovernmental organizations (IGO's); for instance, it is a permanent observer at the United Nations' General Assembly.
The Wangara are a diaspora community of ethnic Soninke origin who served as specialized long-distance merchants throughout West Africa, particularly in Trans-Saharan trade. Originating from the Ghana Empire, over time the Wangara became integrated into numerous other communities and ethnic groups, particularly in Timbuktu, Agadez, Kano, Gao, Salaga, Kong, Bissa, Kankan, Fouta Jallon, Djenné as well as Bambouk, Bure, Lobi, and Bono goldfields and Borgu. They were practicing Muslims who helped spread the religion widely and served as clerics, political advisors, healers and marabouts, often following the Suwarian Tradition.
Ghana is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca. Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken in the south. Dagbani, Dagare, Sisaala, Waale, and Gonja are among the most widely spoken in the northern part of the country.
Ivory Coast is a multilingual country with an estimated 69 languages currently spoken. The official language, French, was introduced during the colonial period. This language is taught in schools and serves as a lingua franca in the country, along with Dioula.
Bissa is a Mande ethnic group of south-central Burkina Faso, northeastern Ghana and the northernmost tip of Togo. Their language, Bissa, is a Mande language that is related to, but not the same as, a cluster of languages in the old Borgu Kingdom area of Northeast Benin and Northwest Nigeria, including Busa, Boko, and Kyenga. An alternate name for the Bissa is Busansi or Busanga which is used by the Mossi people.
Naba may refer to: নব
Busa, or Bisã, is the Mande language of the former Borgu Emirate in northwestern Nigeria and northern Benin. It is called Busanci in Hausa, and has also been called Zugweya.
Burkina Faso is a multilingual country. An estimated 70 languages are spoken there, of which about 66 are indigenous. Mooré is spoken by about 52.5% of the population, mainly in the central region around the capital, Ouagadougou.
Samo, also known as Mande Samo, is a dialect cluster of Mande languages spoken in Burkina Faso and Mali.
Bariba, also known as Baatonum, is the language of the Bariba people and was the language of the state of Borgu. The native speakers are called Baatombu, Barba, Baruba, Berba and a number of various other names and spellings.
Boko, or Boo, is a Mande language of Benin and Nigeria.
The Eastern Mande languages are a branch of the Mande languages spoken in seven areas: northwest Burkina Faso, the border region of northern Benin and Nigeria, and one language, Bissa, also spoken in Ghana, Togo, and Ivory Coast and the Samo languages also spoken in Mali.
Borgu Fulfulde, also known as Borgu Fulani, Benin-Togo Fulfulde, Fulbe-Borgu, or Peul is a variety of the Fula language a West Atlantic language part of the Niger-Congo language family, it is spoken primarily in the Borgou Department of Benin, spanning Nigeria, other parts of Benin, as well as Togo and parts of Burkina Faso.