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C.3 Bantu
The term “Bantu” can be traced back to Bleek (1858, cf. Williamson 1989a: 4). 3
Linguists have devoted much study to the Bantu language family, which covers most of
the Niger-Congo region to the south and east of Cameroon. However, certain
fundamental questions remain. For example, what exactly comprises Bantu, and having
determined that, is it in fact a genetic unity? In this section, I will look first at how Bantu
relates to the other Niger-Congo languages. Then, I will turn my attention to the
questions of the domain and integrity of Bantu.
Below is the Bendor-Samuel (1989) classification for the Bantoid group,
including Bantu. Data are taken from Watters (1989: 412), Hedinger (1989: 425), and
Watters & Leroy (1989).
(3) Bantoid [5.D.]
A. Northern
1. Mambiloid
2. Fam
3. Tiba
4. Dakoid [6.A.3]
B. Southern (Wide Bantu)
1. Tivoid
2. Jarawan
3. Mbe
4. Ekoid
5. Mamfe
6. Beboid
7. Wide Grassfields
8. Tikar
9. Ndemli
10. Mbam
11. (Narrow) Bantu
a. Northwest
b. Other
i. Central
ii. East
3 Bleek included a much wider group of languages under Bantu than is usually included today. In
fact, his Bantu group resembles today’s Niger-Congo group.
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