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Kariya language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kariya
Vìnà Hə̀
Native toNigeria
RegionGanjuwa LGA, Bauchi State
Native speakers
(2,000 cited 1995)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3kil
Glottologkari1316
ELPKariya
PeopleWììhə́
LanguageVìnà Hə̀

Kariya or Vinahə (Vìnà Hə̀), is an Afroasiatic language spoken in a cluster of villages near the Stone Age archaeological site of Kariya Wuro in Ganjuwa LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The ethnic group is known as Wììhə́.[2]

The Wiihə people have a highly rich and complex ritual culture that includes elaborate masquerades, a circumcision ceremony known as sár, a ritual calendar, and so on.[2]

Distribution

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Speakers live in the two main settlements of Kariya Gyada and Tulu. There are also speakers in the nearby villages of Sabon Kariya and Sabon Tulu. The settlement of Dutsen Giwa used to have Vinahə speakers, but it is now Hausa-speaking.[2]

Clans

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Wiihə clans and their respective founders and shrines:[2]

Clan Founder Shrine
Vàràyá Tákúshìyà uses the Kúlkùl shrine
Kúlkùl Yàkáù Jambula
Njálgá Zàmànì incorporated into Kàryà
Kàryà Ààyà Faɗuwan
Wèèmà Gwàlàbà Dunguzun
Iìrwá Jàngàlá incorporated into Vàràyá

References

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  1. ^ Kariya at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c d Blench, Roger. 2012. Linguistic and cultural background to the North Bauchi region and the Wiihə people