Bhele

BHY

threatened

Alternate Names: Bili, Ebhele, Ipere, Kipere, Kipili, Pere, Peri, Pili, Piri

Dialects: Bugombe (Ebugombe). Lexical similarity: 80% with Kaiku , and Komo ,, 70% with Bila ,, less than 60% with Bera , and Amba ,, 40% with Bali , and Lika ,.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Bantoid
Southern
Narrow Bantu
Central
D
Bira-Nyali (D.31)

Demographics: 15,000 (1989).

Language Use: Also use Congo Swahili [swc], Nande [nnb].

Language Development: Bible portions: 1939–1987.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Other Comments: Different from Peri, a dialect of Kalanga , of Zimbabwe. Names of ethnic groups: Babeka, Baleje, Batike, Babhogombe (Bapakombe, Bugombe, Ebugombe), Babhaidhomba, and Babhogala (Bapokara). Bapakombe may be separate language.