Alternate Names: Bakele, Ukele
Dialects: Iteeji, Mtezi, Ugbala. 4 dialects in the north, 3 south, besides those named.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 180,000 (2011 U. Francis), increasing. 45,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 180,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home. All ages. Positive attitudes. 120,000 also use English [eng].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 28%. Literacy rate in L2: 35% in English [eng]. Literacy program in progress. Poetry. NT: 1979.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Nigeria
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.