Introduction

 

The Nzime language is spoken by about 40,000 people in Cameroon. Alternate names include Djimu, Dzimou, Kɔɔzime, Konzime, Kooncimo, Koozhime, and Koozime. The people call themselves Kɔɔnzime, and live in the East region: Upper Nyong division, Alouma, Lomie, Messok, Mindourou, and Somalomo villages north and northwest Dja river; South region: Dja-and-Lobo division.

The linguistic classification of Koonzime [ozm] is Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, A, Makaa-Njem (A.842). There are two dialects: Nzime (Koonzime) and Badwe’e (Badjoue, Bajue, Bajwe’e, Koozime).

The speakers use their language via the following media: public discourse, government information, school materials, oral and written church materials, oral literature, and radio. The speakers of Baka [bkc] and Kol [biw] also learn Nzime.