| Mpumpong | |
|---|---|
| Mpumpoŋ | |
| Pronunciation | [pʰùpʰôŋ] |
| Native to | Cameroon |
Native speakers | (75,000, incl.Konabem cited 1991–1996)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:mgg – Mpumpongmcx – Mpiemo |
| Glottolog | mpon1254 Mpongmpongmpie1238 Mpiemo |
A.86[2] | |
Mpumpong (Mpongmpong) is aBantu language of Cameroon. Maho (2009) considersMpiemo to be a dialect.
The digraph⟨mp⟩ is pronounced like an Englishp.
Varieties of Mpo are Mezime, Mpobyáng, Mpopó, Bagéto, Kunabeeb, Mpyámó, Mpomam, Esel, and Bijugi. There is intermediate intercomprehension among these language varieties. Mpo is closely related toNzime.[3]
According to certain Mpobyáng speakers, notably from the villages of Mpak and Zumzazó in the arrondissement ofAbong-Mbang, department ofHaut-Nyong, Eastern Region, Mpo is the eponymous ancestor of the various Mezime clans:[3]
Each clan bears the name of one of the eight sons of Mpo; Esál and Bijugi would have appeared later in the genealogy.
Mpo occupies much of the southeastern corner of Cameroon, i.e. most ofBoumba-et-Ngoko department and the southern edge ofKadey department. Mezime (Medjime) and Bagéto (Bangantou) live in the southern part of Mbang commune (department ofKadey), respectively to the west and east of the main town of Mbang.[3]
All other groups live in the department ofBoumba-et-Ngoko (Eastern Region):[3]
In the commune ofMoloundou, there are the Mpomam (Boman) to the north, the Esál (Essel) to the east along theNgoko River, and the Kunabeeb to the west along theDja River. The local government administration has sometimes confused the name "Bangantou" with the Mpo-speaking Bageto (in the commune of Mbang) together with theUbangian-speaking Bangandu living north ofMoloundou.[3]
The Mpo population is estimated at 45,000 speakers.[3]