Alternate Names: Abacama, Bachama, Bashamma, Besema, Bwareba, Bwatiye, Gboare
Dialects: Central Bwatiye (Demsa, Demsa Bata), Mulyen (Mulwyin, Mwulyin), Opalo (Opolo), Wa-Duku. In Bata dialect subgroup. Bacama and Central Bwatiye , 54%–68% of non-riverine Bata , dialects (Furo and Song); Upriver dialects have contact with downriver dialects due to fishing practices. Lexical similarity: Bacama , 89% with Central Bwatiye ,, 81% with Njoboliyo ,, 86% with Furo ,, 84% with Song Bata ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 150,000 (1992 CAPRO). Central Bwatiye speakers are ethnically Bata.
Language Use: 60,000 also use Adamawa Fulfulde [fub]. 150,000 also use Hausa [hau]. Used as L2 by Bali [bcn], Kpasham [pbn], Kwa [kwb], Mbula-Bwazza [mbu].
Language Development: Poetry. Newspapers. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1915.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Nigeria
Other Comments: Bacama fishermen migrate long distances down the Benue River with camps as far as the confluence. Bacama are joined with the Bata , in the Bwatiye Association. Christian, Muslim.