Pongu language


Pongu, or Rin, is a Kainji language spoken in Nigeria. There are about 20,000 speakers. Their main centre is in Pangu Gari town of Niger State, about 20 kilometres southeast of Tegina.

Clans

There are 8 Rin clans. They speak slightly different but mutually comprehensible dialects.
  • Ca-su
  • Ca-undu
  • A-sebi
  • Ca-gere = Ca-majere
  • A-baba = U-bwɔbwɔ
  • A-wusi = A-kwa
  • A-zhiga
  • A-waga = Awәgә
The Awәgә may have been a different ethnic group that was assimilated into the Rin group. Awәgә was a distinct language related to Rin, and used to be spoken in some villages to the east of Zungeru. However, today it is nearly extinct. Blench was able to record a semi-speaker in Dikko village, near Luwa town, Rafi LGA. Two fluent speakers were reported in Gidan Gambo, near Pongu Gari.