Alternate Names: Bamekon, Bikom, Kong, Nkom
Dialects: Mbizenaku (Itangimbesa, Mbesa).
Status Notes: Used by speakers of many other languages.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 233,000 (2005 CABTAL), increasing. 69,900 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 233,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Oral use in local administration, church, commerce, written use in church, letters. All ages. Very positive attitudes. 120,000 also use Cameroon Pidgin [wes]. 50,000 also use English [eng]. Also use Babanki [bbk], Bum [bmv], French [fra], Lamnso’ [lns], Mmen [bfm], Oku [oku]. Used as L2 by Aghem [agq], Babanki [bbk], Bum [bmv], Koma [kmy], Laimbue [lmx], Mmen [bfm], Noone [nhu].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 30%. 5% can write Kom. 35 out of 90 schools have bilingual education. A few high schools have Kom language clubs, and Kom is a subject in extracurricular activities. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2004.
Typology: Tonal.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Cameroon
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.