C’lela

DRI

vigorous

Alternate Names: Cala-Cala, Chilala, Chilela, Dakakari, Dakarkari, Dakkarkari, Kolela, Lalawa

Dialects: Adoma (Aroma, Northern Lela, Roma, Roma-Na, Yelmo), Dabai (Central Lela), Lila (Senchi, Southern Lela, Zuru), Ribah. Lexical similarity: 93%–98% with dialects at Rade, Ribah, Dabai, and Senchi, 55% with Hun-Saare ,, 54% with the Fakai sub-group, 47% with Gwamhi-Wuri ,, 20% with Acipa ,.

Genealogy:

Niger-Congo
Atlantic-Congo
Volta-Congo
Benue-Congo
Kainji
Western
Duka

Demographics: 90,000 (1993 SIL).

Language Use: All ages. Also use Hausa [hau]. Used as L2 by Cicipu [awc], Gwamhi-Wuri [bga], Tsuvadi [tvd].

Language Development: Radio programs. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1931–2005.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Nigeria

Other Comments: Ethnonym: Dakarkari by Hausa. Ethnic autonym: Lela. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.