Introduction

The Basaa people of Cameroon number about 300,000 speakers (2005 SIL). They reside in the Central region: widespread in the Nyong-and-Kéllé division; also in the Littoral region, Nkam and Sanaga-Maritime divisions; in the South region, Océan division; in the West region, Menoua division.

The language is classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Basaa (A.43). The ISO code is bas. Alternate names include Basa, Bassa, Bicek, Bikyek, Bisaa, Mbele, Mee, Mvele, Northern Mbene, and Tupen. There are 12 dialects: Bakem, Bon, Bibeng, Diboum (Dibobom), Log, Mpo, Mbang, Ndokama, Basso, Ndokbele, Ndokpenda, Nyamtam.