Kwanka language should not be confused with Kwang language (Chad).
| Kwanka | |
| Also Known As: | Kwang (Kwaŋ) |
| States: | Nigeria |
| Region: | Plateau State, Bauchi State |
| Speakers: | 20,000 |
| Date: | 2003 |
| Ref: | e18 |
| Familycolor: | Niger-Congo |
| Fam2: | Atlantic–Congo |
| Fam3: | Volta–Congo |
| Fam4: | Benue–Congo |
| Fam5: | Plateau |
| Fam6: | Tarokoid |
| Dia1: | Kwang (Vaghat, Kadung) |
| Dia2: | Ya (Boi) |
| Dia3: | Bijim (incl. Legeri) |
| Lc1: | jbm |
| Ld1: | Bijim |
| Lc2: | dkg |
| Ld2: | Kadung |
| Lc3: | tyy |
| Ld3: | Tiyaa |
| Glotto: | vagh1247 |
| Glottorefname: | Vaghat-Ya-Bijim-Legeri |
Kwanka, or Kwang (Kwaŋ), is a dialect cluster of Plateau languages in Nigeria.
| Root: | Vaghat |
| Root: | Ya |
Kwang or Vaghat is the main variety. Others are Ya (Tiyaa) and Bijim.
Vaghat is perceived as distinct from Kadung. Mutual intelligibility between Vaghat/Kadung, Ya and Bijim is fairly low. Kadung and Bijim are more closely related to each other, while Yaa is more divergent.[1]
Kwang and Ya are endonyms, with loconyms Kadun and Kwanka for Kwang and Boi for Ya.
The main settlements are Càmpàk, Kwànkà, Làrkà, Bùkòʃì, Wùyà, Gileŋ, Kùmbùl, Kaduŋ, Wùʃìmà, ɗə̀kdèy, Kwándarì, Rɔ̀k, Jàrkàn, Dùfyàm, Mícìji, and others. They are located in Pankshin LGA and Mangu LGA, Plateau State. Surrounding languages are Mwaghavul, Ngas, Pyem, and Fulani.[2]
See also: Vaghat people. The Vaghat originally lived in the following hill settlements in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGAs in southwestern Bauchi State.[3]
Today, the Vaghat have also moved to many towns and settlements spread across Bauchi State, Plateau State, and Kaduna State (mostly near Zaria).[3]
Vaghat highland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyìtūr, Àtòròk, Āyīpàɣí, Āyīgònì, Àyàkdàl, Àyánàvēr, Āyàtōl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyìʤìlìŋ, Áyàshàlà, and Àzàrā.
Vaghat lowland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyàkdàl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyàgwàr, and Àyàgyēr.
The Vaghat people also have a cave in a mountain where they keep the skulls of their ancestors.[4]