Ubaghara language

Ubaghara
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Cross River State
Native speakers	(30,000 cited 1985) [1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Cross River Upper Cross Central North–South Ubaghara–Kohumono Ubaghara
Language codes
ISO 639-3	byc
Glottolog	ubag1245

Ubaghara is an Upper Cross River language spoken by the Ubaghara people, an Efik subgroup, in Biase local government area of Cross River State. The Ubaghara language is a mixed of Efik and Qua (Ejagham). However most speakers (especially in Biakpan) still speak the Efik language interchangeably.

Ubaghara clan includes Biakpan, Ikun, Ugbem, Etono central, Etono II, and Utuma, altogether been referred to as the Biakpan Eburutu.

Biakpan Eburutu originates from the Obutong clan section, itself a key formation during the historic Efik people migration from Itu which spreaded across the lower cross river (oyono, oyomo) areas from Biase west to Odukpani, Calabar, Akpabuyo and Bakassi.

Dialects

Ubaghara dialects according to Blench (2019): ^[2]

• Biakpan
• Ikun
• Etono
• Ugbem
• Utuma

References

1. Ubaghara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.