Kombe

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A language of Equatorial Guinea

ISO 639-3
nui
Alternate Names
Combe, Ndowe, Ngumbi
Autonym
Kombe
User Population

9,200 (2011 SIL). Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,200.

Location

Litoral province: Rio Muni coast.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Bubi-Benga (A.33)
Dialects

One, Mari, Bweko. Closely related to Cameroonian Iyasa [yko].

Language Use

Vigorous. All except education and government. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Spanish [spa]. Many also use French [fra]. Also use Equatorial Guinean Pidgin [fpe]. Also use Fang [fan]. Used as L2 by Bapuku [bnm].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Very low. Very little available literature. NT: 1940–1975.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kombe
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditionally coastal fishermen. All the Kombe, One, Mari, Bweko, and cross-border Yasa consider themselves ‘Bongwe’ (those who use ‘ngwe’ to refer to ourselves), and together with additional groups are ‘Ndowe’ (the beach peoples). Christian, traditional religion.