Introduction

With a population of over 170,000 (figure from 2002 INSAE census), the Saxwe ethnic group of Benin reside in the Atlantique department: Kpomasse commune; Coufou department: Lalo commune; Mono department: Bopa and Houéyogbé communes.

The Saxwe language is classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe. There are three dialects of this language: Saxwe, Daxe and Se.

Others sometimes refer to this language as either Sahouè, Sahouègbe, Saxwe, Saxwe-Gbe, Saxwegbe, Tsaphe, or Tsaphe -Gbe. The ISO code for Saxwe is [sxw].

The typology of Saxwe includes: SVO; no noun classes or gender; question words initial; minimal affixing; a 7-vowel inventory with 5 nasalized vowels; no case marking (except pronouns); tonal language.

Education is in French; neighboring languages are also spoken, including: Fon, Gen, Aja, Ayizo, and Kotafon. The literature written in Saxwe includes periodicals and Bible portions. Radio programs have also been developed in Saxwe.