Mada language

Not to be confused with Maɗa language.

Mada is a regionally important language spoken in Nasarawa and southern Kaduna States of Middle Belt, Nigeria, with many dialects. It is a highly tonal language. A translation of the New Testament into the language was finished in 1999.^[2] The Nunku dialect has been identified to be a dialect of Mada rather than of Gbantu.

Mada
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Nasarawa State, Kaduna State
Native speakers	(100,000, not counting Nunku cited 1993)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Plateau Ninzic Mada
Language codes
ISO 639-3	mda
Glottolog	mada1282

The Mada people are the second most populated tribe in Nasarawa state, mostly populating Akwanga and Kokona local governments. Possible archaeological history suggests that they may be descendants of the Nok civilization. They are closely related to the Ninzo people, as well as to the Gbantu people. Their languages are believed to be descended from the Proto-Plateau language.

References

1. Mada at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. Blench, Roger. "A brief history of Mada literacy, and the creation of a Mada dictionary".