Central Delta languages


The Central Delta languages are spoken in Rivers State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ogbia is the most populous, with over 200,000 speakers.
The languages are Abua–Odual, Ogbia, Kugbo, Abureni, Obulom, O’chi’chi’, Ogbogolo, Ogbronuagum.

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocationNotes
AbuaCentral Abuan, Ẹmughan, Ọtabha, OkpeḍenAbuanAbua11,000 : estimated 25,000 Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
Kolo clusterKoloỌgbia, Ogbinya100,000 Rivers State, Brass LGA
KoloKoloAgholo
OloiḅiriKolo
AnyamaKolono data
ObulomAbulomaRivers State, Okrika LGA, Abuloma town
OḍualArughaunya, AḍibomỌḍualOḍualSaka8,400 ; 15,000 Rivers State, Ahoada LGA report 700 speakers, but in the 1970s, Barnwell found only 20 speakers living in a quarter of one town. The Odut are Mbembe speakers, and there is no separate language.
OgbogoloOne town onlyRivers State, Ahoada LGA
OgbrọnuagụmBukumaAgumOne town only, north of BugumaRivers State, Degema LGA
ỌchịchịỌchịchịỌchịchịA few speakers; moribund, since speakers have switched to EchieRivers State, Etche LGA, towns of Ikwerengwo and Umuebulu
Kụgbọ2,000 Rivers State, Brass LGA
AbureniMiniMini3 villagesRivers State, Brass LGAno data