Konabéré

A language of Burkina Faso

Black Bobo, Bobo, Bobo Fi, Bobo Madaré, Boboda, Northern Bobo Madaré, “Bobo Fing” (pej.)

Autonym

Kʋnabɩrɩ

User Population

35,000 in Burkina Faso (1995 SIL). Total users in all countries: 60,000.

Location

Boucle du Mouhoun region: Banwa province, Tansilla area; Kossi province.

Language Maps

Burkina Faso

Central Mali

Central Mali: Enlarged area

Southern Mali

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification

Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Bobo

Dialects

Yaba, Sankuma (Sarokama), Jèrè, Tankri, Kure, Kukoma (Koma). Northern Bobo Madaré has 20%–30% intelligibility of Southern Bobo Madaré. All dialects of Northern understand Yaba, centered in Tansilla. Separate literature may be needed for the Mali dialect. Some linguists treat Bobo as a separate major branch of Mande.

Typology

CV, CVC, CVV, CCV; tonal.

Language Use

Home. Also use French [fra], especially the educated. Also use Jula [dyu], especially most men with good proficiency and some women for common topics, government, and trade.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5% or below. Dictionary. Grammar.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Konabéré

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.