Introduction

The Elip ethnic group resides in southern Cameroon and has a population of around 6,400 people (1982 SIL). Alternate names for the group are Belibi, Belip, Central Yambassa, Libie, Nulibie, and Nulibié.

The Elip are located in the watershed of the Mbam and Sanaga rivers southeast of the town of Bokito in the Mbam-and-Inoubou Division.

The Elip language is classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Sanaga (A.62). There are three dialects of Elip: Nuyambassa, Nulamba, and Nukanya. Elip has lexical similarity with Nubaca (72%) and Mbule (43%).

Language Use
The Elip have a positive attitude toward their language. There is a high degree of multilingualism among the Elip (2014 SIL), with French, Mmaala, or Yangben spoken as a second language. Bulu is used in the Presbyterian Church while Ewondo is used in the Catholic Church. Mmaala speakers speak Elip as a second language.

Language Development
Bible portions were completed in 2007. Elip is beginning to be taught in the public schools a couple of hours a week (2014 SIL).