Chadic · Nigeria’s peoples

Marghi

The Marghi, about 360,000 people, live in southern Borno and northern Adamawa and speak a Chadic language of the Biu-Mandara branch.

See the Marghi on the map

At a glance

Where do the Marghi people live?: Their homeland is in Askira Uba in Borno State, across 1 local government area. They are also a large share of Borno and Adamawa States.
What language do the Marghi speak?: Marghi, a language of the Chadic family (Afro-Asiatic › Chadic).

Overview

The Marghi, about 360,000 people, live in southern Borno and northern Adamawa and speak a Chadic language of the Biu-Mandara branch.^[2]High confidence

Where the Marghi 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.

Borno
- Askira Uba(Homeland)
- Damboa(Shared area)
- Konduga(Shared area)
- Chibok(Smaller presence)
- Jere(Smaller presence)
- Maiduguri(Smaller presence)
Adamawa
- Gombi(Shared area)
- Hong(Shared area)
- Madagali(Shared area)
- Mubi North(Shared area)
- Mubi South(Shared area)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Askira and Uba

Askira Uba, Borno State: Askira, Uba, Lassa.^[4]High confidence

Predominantly Marghi-speaking (45% in a 2023 survey); Askira, the headquarters, was founded by Muhammadu Mai Maina in 1921, and the LGA has two emirates, Askira and Uba. Lassa, one of its villages, gave its name to the Lassa virus.^[4]

Language

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

Sources

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