| Kalabari | |
|---|---|
| Ibani–Kalabari–Kirike | |
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Rivers State |
| Ethnicity | Kalabari,Ibani |
Native speakers | (570,000 cited 1989–1995)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:ijn – Kalabariiby – Ibaniokr – Kirike |
| Glottolog | kaki1246 |
| ELP | Kalabari |
| Kirike[2] | |
Kalabari is anIjo language ofNigeria spoken inRivers State andBayelsa State by theAwome people.[3] Its three dialects aremutually intelligible.[citation needed] The Kalabari dialect (Kalabari proper) is one of the best-documented varieties of Ijo, and as such is frequently used as the prime example of Ijo in linguistic literature.
As of 2005, the language, "spoken by 258,000 people, [was] endangered largely because of the massive relocation that has taken place in the area due to the development of Nigeria's oil industry in thePort Harcourt region."[4]
Berbice Creole Dutch, a recently extinctDutch Creole formerly spoken in EasternGuyana, was spoken by descendants of Kalabari speakers. The African element in Berbice Dutch is predominantly Kalabari in origin.[5]
Kalabari-language words have been proposed for some modern technical terms.[6]
Kalabari is spoken south ofPort Harcourt.
Ibani is spoken southeast of Port Harcourt, in theBonny local government area and inOpobo.
Kirike is spoken in Port Harcourt and the local government areas ofOkrika andOgu–Bolo.
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