Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Waja language

Waja is a Savannas language of North eastern Nigeria. Dialectical differences between Deruwo and Waja proper are slight.

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
104 w
Citations
2
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Waja
Wɪyáà
Regioneastern Nigeria
Native speakers
(60,000 cited 1989)1
Language codes
ISO 639-3wja
Glottologwaja1259

Waja (also known as Nyan Wiyau, Wiyaa, or Wuya) is a Savannas language of North eastern Nigeria. Dialectical differences between Deruwo (Wajan Dutse) and Waja proper (Wajan Kasa) are slight.

Dialects

Waja dialects:2

  • Wɩyáà (Wajan Kasa), spoken in ten settlements, including Talasse (main settlement that is home to the Emir of Waja).
  • Derúwò (Hill Waja or Wajan Dutse), spoken in Deri. There are two varieties:
    • Putoki, Kulani, and Degri
    • Sikkam and Degri
References

References

  1. Waja at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Kleinewillinghöfer, Ulrich. 2014. The languages of the Tula – Waja Group. Adamawa Languages Project.