Chadic · Nigeria’s peoples

Bachama

The Bwatiye, the Bachama and the closely related Bata, live along the Benue in Adamawa State, around Numan.

At a glance

Where do the Bachama people live?: Their homeland is in Demsa, Lamurde and Numan in Adamawa State, across 3 local government areas. They are also a large share of Girei in Adamawa State.
What language do the Bachama speak?: Bacama, a language of the Chadic family (Afro-Asiatic › Chadic).

Overview

The Bwatiye, the Bachama and the closely related Bata, live along the Benue in Adamawa State, around Numan. Their rulers carry the title Hama.^[2]Medium confidence

Where the Bachama live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Adamawa
- Demsa(Homeland)
- Lamurde(Homeland)
- Numan(Homeland)
- Girei(Shared area)
- Fufore(Smaller presence)
- Song(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Numan

Numan, Adamawa State.^[5]High confidence

Nomweh, “hilltop”, a river port where the Gongola meets the Benue; the Bwatiye, remembered as warriors never conquered, are the main people. The Hama Bachama's administrative palace (Voti) is here.^[5]

Lamurde

Lamurde, Adamawa State.^[6],[5]High confidence

The spiritual and ancestral home of the Bwatiye, with a second palace of the Hama Bachama; inhabited mainly by Bwatiye and Tsobo.^[5],[6]

Language

Bacama, a language of the Chadic family (Afro-Asiatic › Chadic). ISO 639-3: bcy.^[1]High confidence

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).