Kainji · Nigeria’s peoples

Bassa

The Bassa of central Nigeria speak Basa, a Kainji language, in several varieties: Basa-Komo (Kwomu) in Kogi and Nasarawa, and Basa-Kwali, Basa-Gurara and Basa-Makurdi elsewhere.

See the Bassa on the map

At a glance

Where do the Bassa people live?: Their homeland is in Bassa in Kogi State, across 1 local government area. They are also a large share of Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory and Doma and Toto in Nasarawa State.
What language do the Bassa speak?: Basa (Basa-Benue), a language of the Kainji family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Kainji).

Overview

The Bassa of central Nigeria speak Basa, a Kainji language, in several varieties: Basa-Komo (Kwomu) in Kogi and Nasarawa, and Basa-Kwali, Basa-Gurara and Basa-Makurdi elsewhere. They live in the FCT, where Gwagwalada is their traditional headquarters, and in Kogi, Nasarawa and Benue. Bassa speakers often also speak Igala, Ebira or Nupe. They are not the same people as the Bassa-Nge.^[3],[2]High confidence

Where the Bassa 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.

Kogi
- Bassa(Homeland)
- Ankpa(Smaller presence)
- Dekina(Smaller presence)
- Omala(Smaller presence)
Federal Capital Territory
- Abaji(Shared area)
- Gwagwalada(Shared area)
- Kwali(Shared area)
- Kuje(Smaller presence)
Nasarawa
- Doma(Shared area)
- Toto(Shared area)
- Kokona(Smaller presence)
- Nasarawa(Smaller presence)
Benue
- Makurdi(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Gwagwalada (Bassa headquarters)

Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory.^[11]High confidence

The traditional headquarters of the Bassa in the Federal Capital Territory, seat of their ruler, the Aguma.^[11]

Language

Basa (Basa-Benue), a language of the Kainji family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Kainji). ISO 639-3: bzw.^[1],[2]High confidence

Sources

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