Dakoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Chamba (Sama)

The Chamba, who call themselves Sama, live along the Nigeria–Cameroon border in southern Adamawa and in Taraba.

At a glance

Where do the Chamba (Sama) people live?: Their homeland is in Donga in Taraba State and Ganye, Jada and Toungo in Adamawa State, across 4 local government areas. They are also a large share of Mayo-Belwa in Adamawa State.
What language do the Chamba (Sama) speak?: Chamba Daka and Chamba Leko, a language of the Dakoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Northern Bantoid › Dakoid).

Overview

The Chamba, who call themselves Sama, live along the Nigeria–Cameroon border in southern Adamawa and in Taraba. Ganye is called the headquarters of the Sama people, and Ganye, Jada and Toungo LGAs are Chamba land; the Chamba also founded the chiefdom of Donga in Taraba, whose ruler is the Gara Donga. Unusually, the Chamba speak two unrelated languages: Chamba Daka (Dakoid, the larger) and Chamba Leko (Adamawa).^{[2],[3],[4],[1]}High confidence

Where the Chamba (Sama) 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.

Taraba
- Donga(Homeland)
Adamawa
- Ganye(Homeland)
- Jada(Homeland)
- Toungo(Homeland)
- Mayo-Belwa(Shared area)
- Fufore(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Donga

Donga, Taraba State.^[4],[7]Medium confidence

Founded around 1830 by the Chamba Leko leader Nubunga Dozinga, whose people had been driven west from today's Cameroon by Fulani attacks; he chose the fertile plain by the Donga river, defended by the river and hills, as the old Kwararafa fragmented. Donga became a centralized Chamba kingdom.^[4]

Language

Chamba Daka and Chamba Leko, a language of the Dakoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Northern Bantoid › Dakoid).^[1]High confidence

Sources

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