Alternate Names: Bagwe, Bassamia
Dialects: Gwe (Lugwe), Saamia (Samia), Songa. Lexical similarity: 88% with Oluwanga ,, 80% with Olunyole ,, 62% with Masaba , (Uganda), 59%–61% with Ganda , (Uganda), 52% with Luidakho-Luisukha-Lutirichi ,, 51% with Gwere , (Uganda). A member of macrolanguage Oluluyia ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 355,000 in Uganda (2002 census), increasing. 280,000 Basaamia and 75,300 Bagwe (2002 census). Population total all countries: 480,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, market, religion, work. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Kenye [lke].
Language Development: Mother-tongue literacy not often taught in schools due to lack of materials in Lusaamia-Lugwe. Functional Adult Literacy was in progress but has come to a halt. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Radio programs. Films. Dictionary. NT: 2011.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Uganda
Other Comments: Part of Luyia macrolanguage. Christian, traditional religion.