Mande · Nigeria’s peoples

Busa (Bisã)

The Busa call themselves Bisã; only people of Bussa town are strictly Busa.

At a glance

Where do the Busa (Bisã) people live?: Their homeland is in Borgu in Niger State, across 1 local government area.
What language do the Busa (Bisã) speak?: Busa, a language of the Mande family (Mande › Eastern Mande).
Which kingdoms are part of Busa (Bisã) history?: Borgu

Overview

The Busa call themselves Bisã; only people of Bussa town are strictly Busa. They live along the west bank of the Niger around New Bussa (moved when the Kainji dam flooded old Bussa in 1968) and Wawa, with about 30 villages, and a smaller group south of Illo in Kebbi State who say they came from Bussa. Busa is a Boko-Busa language of the Eastern Mande family, and many Kambari, Laru and Lopa neighbours speak it as a second language. The Emir of Borgu at New Bussa rules the Busa and Boko of Borgu LGA.^[2],[1]High confidence

Where the Busa (Bisã) 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.

Niger
- Borgu(Homeland)
Kebbi
- Bagudu(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

New Bussa

Borgu, Niger State.^[3],[4],[5]High confidence

The new site of Bussa, Borgu's senior and sacred seat, whose old town was drowned when the Kainji dam was finished in 1968; about a quarter of the dam's cost went to resettling the people. New Bussa is the headquarters of the Borgu Emirate and Borgu LGA.^[3],[4]

Language

Busa, a language of the Mande family (Mande › Eastern Mande).^[1]High confidence

In history

BorguBorgu at its height, 1783

Sources

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