Introduction

The Kuloonaay language is spoken by 22,400 people, the vast majority living in Senegal in the Ziguinchor region: Bignona department, Kafountine area and north; Kalisseye inlet to Casamance river, to Gambian border, east to Dioloulou; Karon islands.

Kuloonaay is classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Karon-Mlomp. The ISO code is [krx]. Alternate names include Jola-Karone, Kaloon, Karone, Karoninka, Kouloonaay, and Kulonay

The Kuloonay people highly value their language, using it at home and in the market, although some use Wolof as well. Children learn French in school. Other languages used are Jola-Fonyi [dyo] and Mandinka [mnk].