Southern Kaduna (; ; formerly Southern Zaria) is an area inhabited by primarily various non-Hausa speaking peoples living in the south of Zazzau Emirate of Kaduna State. It is located in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. Southern Kaduna consists of 12 Local Government Areas out of a total of 23 in Kaduna State. Some view it as being less of a geographical identity and more of an ethnic identity concept.
Subdivisions
Chikun
Jaba
Jema'a
Kachia
Kaduna South
Kagarko
Kajuru
Kaura
Kauru
Lere
Sanga
Zangon Kataf
Ethnic composition
Southern Kaduna is composed of closely related ethnic groups and several subgroups united by a common culture and history. James (2000) classified these people based on their ethno-linguistic affinities under the topic "The Middle Belt (Composition of the Nok Culture Area)", and grouping the subgroups into the following groups: the Southern kaduna population is estimated to be over 4.5 million people out of the estimated 8.5 million population in Kaduna state in 2016. Predicted 5.1 million people out of 12 million predicted population of Kaduna State in 2021. The common general language speaking in the area is Hausa Language as medium of communication.
The Proto-Plateau ethnolinguistic cluster
I. Northern or Adara Group
Adara (Kadara) Ada (Kuturmi) Ajure Adara (Kadara of Idon) Anumafa Adara (Kadara Kateri) Semi Ajure (Ankuwa, Gora) Bakulu (Ikulu)
II. Western or Koro Group
Koro Myamya
Koro Achel, Ashe or Wachi
Koro Ala or Agweshi
Koro Ham or Adong/Gbaham
III. Ham or Northwestern Group
Ham Kpop (Jaba Kwoi) Ham Ngat Ham (Jaban Katari) Ham Shambang (Samban) Ham Duhyah (Jaban Lungu) Ham Gwong (Kagoma) Ham Kworri (Chori) Ham Det (Faik/Kenyi) Ham Netkun/Netwho - Gbaham Ham Nyakpah (Yeskwa) Ham Kong/Rhuini (Kamantan)
IV. Nerzit or Kataf (Atyap) Group
Atyap (Kataf, Katab) Bajju (Kaje) Agworok (Aegworok, Oegworok, Kagoro) Asholyio (Osholio, Asholio, Moro'a) Fantswam (Kafanchan) Bakulu (Ikulu) Anghan (Angan, Kamantan) Atakad (Atakat, Attakar) Atyecharak (Atyacherak, Attachirak, Kachechere) Terri (Challa, Chara) Atuku (tuku) Kuu""
V. South-western (Aninka) Group
Ninzo
Northern Mada
Gbantu (Gwantu) Nindem Nikyob (Kaninkon) Kanufi Nungu Buh - Ayu Ningeshe Nandu Numana
The above grouping on the Proto-Plateau ethnolinguistic clusters was however modified based on the spoken languages by Blench (2008) as follows:
I. Northwest or Adara Group
Eda, Ada
Edra, Adara
Bakulu
Ẹjẹgha (Idon) Doka Ẹhwa (Iku-Gora-Ankwe)
II. Atyap (Nerzit, Nenzit) Group
Bajju
Atyap
Agworok (Kagoro) Takad (Attakar) Atyecarak (Kacicere) Asholyio Fantswam (Kafancan) Atuku (Tuku) Kuu
III. Koro Group
Ashe
Tinɔr (Waci-Myamya) Idũ, Gwara Nyenkpa-Barde
IV. Ham Group
Shamang
Cori
Ham
Zhire
Shang
V. Gwong Group
Gwong (Kagoma) Anɡhan (Kamanton)
VI. Ninzo Group
Ninzo (Ninzam) Bu-Niŋkada Mada Numana-Nunku-Gbantu-Numbu Ningye-Ninka Anib Nikyob Nindem Nungu Ayu
VII. Ndun Group
Ndun (Nandu)
VIII. Alumu Group
Sambe
He also said that Nisam is a presumed Plateau language once spoken in Nince Village, Kaduna State, however, its place within the Plateau branch cannot be ascertained due to the lack of linguistic data and that in 2005, there was only one speaker of Nisam.
The Proto-Kainji ethnolinguistic cluster
I. Eastern Kainji Group I
Atsam (Chawai) Amap (Amo) Abisi (Piti) Kuzamani (Shuwa-Zamani) Ngmgbang (Ribam) Dinani (Dingi) Ribina
II. Eastern Kainji Group II
Agbiri (Gure) Aniragu (Kahugu) Akurmi (Kurama) Koonu (Kono) Vono (Kiballo) Tumi (Kitimi) Nuno-Kaivi (Kaibi) Mala-Ruma (Rumaya/Ruruma) Abin (Binawa) Kuvori (Surubu) Atumu (Kinuku) Shuwa-Zamani (Kuzamani) Dungi (Dungu)
The Proto-Nupoid ethnolinguistic cluster
Gbagyi (Gwari) Group
Gbagyi-Gbari (Gwari)
The Proto-West Chadic ethnolinguistic cluster
Outside of James (2000)'s classification lie the groups from the Proto-West Chadic ethnolinguistic cluster:
Gwandara (an afro-asiatic group, related to the Hausa, said to have migrated from Kano.) Sha (a migrant group from Bokkos, Plateau State.)
Languages
Southern Kaduna consists of a diverse minority of ethnolinguistic groups, who speak languages belonging to the Niger–Congo and West Chadic language groups. Below are the languages and dialects spoken by the people of Southern Kaduna: