Bandi

BZA

developing

Alternate Names: Bande, Gbande, Gbandi, Gbunde

Dialects: Hasala, Hembeh, Lukasa, Tahamba, Wawana, Wulukoha. Tahamba dialect used for literature. Lexical similarity: 96% with the 6 dialects, 83% with the most similar Mende , dialect.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Mande
Western
Central-Southwestern
Southwestern
Mende-Loma
Mende-Bandi
Bandi

Demographics: 100,000 in Liberia (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). 50,000 fled to Guinea (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 107,000.

Language Use: Used as L2 by Kuwaa [blh].

Language Development: Grammar. NT: 2000.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Liberia

Other Comments: Glossonym: Gbandi or Gbande, both erroneous. Traditional religion, Muslim.