Complete List Of Languages Spoken In Kaduna State, Nigeria

Kaduna State, located in the north-central part of Nigeria, is one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the country. It is home to over 50 ethnic groups, each with its unique language or dialect. In total, 57 languages are spoken in Kaduna.

These languages belong to different language families, including Niger-Congo and Afroasiatic, and are spoken by different indigenous communities.

List Of Languages Spoken In Kaduna State, Nigeria

Here’s the complete list of all the fifty-seven languages spoken in Kaduna state, including the major dialects:

No.	Language	Ethnic Groups
1	Hausa	Hausa
2	Gbagyi (Gbari)	Gbagyi (Gbari)
3	Adara	Adara (Kadara, Eda, Ajuah)
4	Ham (Jaba)	Ham
5	Atyap (Kataf)	Atyap (Kataf, Katab)
6	Fulani (Fula)	Fulani (Fulɓe)
7	English Creole	Multi-ethnic urban communities
8	Akurmi	Akurmi (Kurama)
9	Anghan	Anghan
10	Amo	Amo
11	Aruruma	Aruruma
12	Atachaat	Atachaat
13	Ayu	Ayu
14	Bajju	Bajju (Kaje)
15	Bakulu	Bakulu (Ikulu)
16	Bhazar	Bhazar (Koro)
17	Bur	Bur (Sanga)
18	Binawa	Binawa
19	Dingi	Dingi
20	Fantswam	Fantswam
21	Gure	Gure
22	Gwandara	Gwandara
23	Gwong	Gwong (Kagoma)
24	Jangi	Jangi
25	Kaibi	Kaibi
26	Kahugu	Kahugu
27	Kanufi	Kanufi
28	Kigono	Kigono
29	Kinugu	Kinugu
30	Kitimi	Kitimi
31	Kiwafa	Kiwafa
32	Kiwollo	Kiwollo
33	Koro	Koro (includes Bhazar dialect)
34	Kuvori	Kuvori (Surubu)
35	Kuturmi	Kuturmi
36	Mada	Mada (Mardan)
37	Nandu	Nandu
38	Nduyah	Nduyah
39	Numana	Numana
40	Nindem	Nindem
41	Ningeshe	Ningeshe
42	Ninkyop	Ninkyop
43	Ninzo	Ninzo
44	Nyenkpa	Nyenkpa (Yeskwa)
45	Oegworok	Oegworok
46	Pikal	Pikal
47	Pitti	Pitti
48	Ribang	Ribang
49	Rishuwa	Rishuwa
50	Rumada	Rumada
51	Rumayya	Rumayya
52	Shemawa	Shemawa
53	Sholio	Sholio (Marwa)
54	Siyawa	Siyawa
55	Takad	Takad
56	Tarri	Tarri
57	Tsam	Tsam (Chawai)

Major Languages Spoken In Kaduna State

Here are the major languages that are spoken in Kaduna state, Nigeria, including their estimated speakers and ethnic groups:

Language	Estimated Number of Speakers in Kaduna State	Ethnic Groups
Hausa	5–7 million	Hausa
Gbagyi (Gbari)	1–1.5 million	Gbagyi
Adara	300,000 – 400,000	Adara
Ham (Jaba)	200,000 – 300,000	Ham
Atyap (Kataf)	200,000 – 300,000	Atyap
Fulani	400,000 – 600,000	Fulani
English Creole	Urban population (approx. 500,000+)	Various urban ethnic groups

1. Hausa

Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Kaduna State and across northern Nigeria. It belongs to the West Chadic subgroup of the Afroasiatic language family.

Globally, about 58 million people speak Hausa as their first language, with another 36 million using it as a second language, making a total of around 94 million speakers.

In Nigeria alone, more than 48 million people speak Hausa, and in Kaduna State, an estimated 5 to 7 million people use it as their main language.

Hausa serves as the common language, or lingua franca, across many ethnic groups in Kaduna State and beyond. It’s also spoken in countries like Niger, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Chad, and parts of Sudan.

The language plays a big part in daily communication, trade, governance, and religion, especially in Muslim communities, where it is used in Islamic teaching and practice.

Though it comes from a non-tonal language family, Hausa uses pitch to change meaning in words, making it somewhat tonal. The Kano dialect is the standard form used in schools and media. While Hausa was traditionally written in Ajami (Arabic script), the Latin alphabet is now more common, especially in education.

Hausa is one of Nigeria’s three officially recognized local languages. It is used in primary school instruction and widely in newspapers, radio, and TV, reaching audiences even outside Africa through international broadcasters.

2. Gbagyi (Gbari)

The Gbagyi people, also known as Gbari (plural: Agbagyi or Agbari), are one of the largest ethnic groups in Central Nigeria, with a population estimated at 12 to 15 million.

They are mainly found in four states: Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. While outsiders once called them “Gwari,” the people prefer their native names, Gbagyi or Gbari.

In Kaduna State, the Gbagyi mostly live in the southern and central parts, with communities in areas like Bwari and Kwali. Their presence in Kaduna is tied to their larger population in Abuja, where they are seen as the original landowners.

The Gbagyi speak a language from the Nupoid branch of the Niger-Congo family. There are two main dialects: Gbari (also called Gwari Yamma) and Gbagyi, which are similar enough that speakers understand each other easily.

Traditionally, the Gbagyi are farmers, skilled in pottery, woodwork, and calabash carving. While most Gbagyi are now Christians, some still practice Islam and traditional beliefs, including worship of Shekwoyi and Maigiro.

3. Adara

The Adara people, also known as Kadara, Eda, Ajuah, or Adaa, are one of the major ethnic groups in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. With a population estimated between 381,000 and 500,000, they form a notable part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt ethnic diversity.

They mostly reside in Kachia and Kajuru Local Government Areas, with others in Chikun and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State. Adara communities are also found in Niger State, particularly in Paikoro and Munya LGAs, and in northern Abuja.

The Adara speak a North Plateau language from the Niger-Congo family. This language, called Adara, includes several dialects like Ada, Eneje, Ajiya, and Ekhwa. While Hausa and English are common in the region, many Adara still use their native tongue daily, notably in rural areas.

The people are farmers, growing crops like maize, millet, guinea corn, rice, yams, ginger, and cotton. They also engage in hunting and crafts.

Religiously, 55% to 80% of the Adara are Christians, while others practice Islam or traditional beliefs, including the worship of Onum, a supreme being linked to the sun.

4. Ham (Jaba)

The Ham people, often wrongly referred to as “Jaba,” are one of the major ethnic groups in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. They call themselves Ham, a name backed by linguistic research as the accurate reflection of their identity.

The term “Jaba,” given by outsiders, is now considered offensive and rejected by the community. However, the Ham population is estimated between 388,000 and 404,000, and they largely live in the Jaba, Kachia, Kagarko, and Jema’a Local Government Areas, across about 307 square miles (or 795 square kilometers).

Towns such as Kwoi (their spiritual and political center), Nok, Zshiek, Dung, Chori, Fai, and Sambang are part of their homeland. They speak the Hyam language, a group of dialects within the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family.

These include dialects like Ham Kpop, Ham Shambang, and Ham Det, among others. However, the rise of Hausa as a regional common language threatens Hyam’s survival.

Many young Ham people now speak Hausa better than their native language. In response, the community created the Hyam Literacy Organization to promote and preserve their language.

5. Atyap (Kataf)

The Atyap people, also known as Kataf or Katab, are one of the major indigenous groups in the Middle Belt region. Most Atyap are found in Zangon-Kataf, Kaura, and parts of Jema’a Local Government Areas.

Some also live in Plateau and Niger States due to earlier migration. Their homeland is known for its fertile soil and hills, which support their farming lifestyle.

In 1963, their population was about 105,000, and it has grown since then. In 1995, the Atyap Chiefdom was officially created to grant them greater cultural and political independence.

The Atyap speak Tyap, a language in the Niger-Congo family, which includes different dialects like Tyap proper, Gworok, and Morwa. Although Hausa and English are common in the area, many efforts are being made to keep Tyap alive through schools and local programs. Most Atyap are Christians, though some practice Islam or traditional religion.

6. Fulani

The Fulani people, also known as Fula, Fulɓe, or Peul, are among the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, with an estimated population of 25 to 40 million worldwide.

Of this number, around 7 to 10 million are pastoralists, making them the largest nomadic cattle-herding group globally. In Nigeria’s Kaduna State, the Fulani are a major ethnic group, particularly in the north, referred to as “Mecca.”

They also reside in southern Kaduna alongside other ethnic groups. With the Hausa, they form the Hausa-Fulani group, which makes up about 60% of Kaduna’s population.

Fulani people in Kaduna live both settled and semi-nomadic lives. Many of them move seasonally with their cattle in search of grass and water, contributing greatly to the local economy and culture.

They speak Fulfulde, a tonal language from the Niger-Congo family. This language has many versions across West and Central Africa. In Kaduna, the Fulfulde spoken is linked to Hausa due to long-standing interaction. Many Fulani are fluent in both languages.

Fulani culture is built around cattle herding and guided by Pulaaku, a strong code of conduct that values patience, modesty, respect, and courage. Islam is the main religion. Historically, they spread Islam in West Africa through the Sokoto Caliphate in the 1800s.

7. English Creole

English Creole, also called Nigerian Pidgin, is a widely spoken language in Nigeria, including in Kaduna State. It started in the 17th and 18th centuries when English-speaking traders met African ethnic groups.

And since then, it has grown into a full language with its grammar and words, which millions of Nigerians use as a common way to communicate across different groups.

In Kaduna, English Creole is mostly spoken in cities like Kaduna and Zaria. It helps people from different backgrounds, like Hausa, Gbagyi, and Fulan,i understand each other.

Even though it is not an official language, many people use it every day in places like markets, schools, and on the streets. Traders, students, and workers use it to connect with others who speak different local languages.