Alternate Names: Bale, Balendru, Baletha, Batha, Bbadha, Bbaledha, Hema-Nord, Kihema-Nord, Kilendu
Dialects: Ddralo (Ddradha), Djadha (Jidha), Njawlo (Njawdha), Pidha, Tadha. Tadha is standard dialect. Djadha is largest and is used for literature. Jidha is the variety of the Bagegere (Northern Hema) who have adopted Lendu.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 750,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (1996 SIL). Population total all countries: 761,100.
Language Use: Spoken as L1 by people from 4 ethnic backgrounds: Lendu, Hema-North, Alur, and Okebu. Also use Congo Swahili [swc].
Language Development: NT: 1936–1989.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Other Comments: Distinct from the Bale dialect of Ngombe ,. Christian.