Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Kele language (Gabon)

Kele is a Bantu language of Gabon. Dialects of the Kele language are scattered throughout Gabon.West Kele (Kili) is spoken by the Kele people, scattered in Middle Ogooué Province, Mimongo area. Ngom is used with only minor differences by the Kola/Koya Pygmies. It is spoken on both sides of the border with the Republic of the Congo. Bubi Tombidi Mwesa

Last revised
Jun 11, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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202 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Kélé
Dikele
Native toGabon, a few in Congo
EthnicityKele people
Native speakers
(14,000 cited 2000–2007)1
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
keb – West Kele, Bubi
nra – Ngom
B.222

Kele is a Bantu language of Gabon. Dialects of the Kele language are scattered throughout Gabon.

Phonology

Consonants4
Labial Alveolar Dorsal
Plosive p b t d k g
Fricative f v s z
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximant w l j
Vowels4
Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Mid-high e eː o oː
Mid-low ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː
Low a aː

Kele also has two tones;4 high and low.

References

References

  1. West Kele, Bubi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Ngom at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. "Kélé A language of Gabon". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  4. Bingoumou, Justin (2008). Esquisse phonologique du ntumbidi parlé à Rébé (MA thesis). Libreville: Université Omar Bongo.