Dagbani language
| Dagbani | |
|---|---|
| Dagbanli | |
| Native to | Ghana, Togo |
| Region | Kingdom of Dagbon |
| Ethnicity | 5.6 million Dagomba (2021 census) |
Native speakers | 1.2 million (2013) |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin, Ajami (Arabic) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | dag |
| Glottolog | dagb1246 |
| Person | Dagbana |
|---|---|
| People | Dagbamba |
| Language | Dagbanli |
| Country | Dagbaŋ |
Dagbani or Dagbanli is a Gur language spoken in Ghana and northern Togo. It has an estimated 1.17 million native speakers. Dagbanli is the most widely spoken language in the northern half of Ghana, including among several acephalous ethnic groups historically under the authority of the King of Dagbaŋ, the Yaa-Naa. Dagbaŋ, located in the Northern Region of Ghana, is regarded as the oldest traditional kingdom in the country, and the Yaa-Naa serves as its paramount chief, presiding over the various communities within the Dagbaŋ area.
Dagbanli is mutually intelligible with Mampruli and closely related to Nabit, Talni, Kamara, Kantosi, and Hanga, also spoken in Northern, North East, Upper East, and Savannah Regions. It is also related to the other members of the same subgroup spoken in other regions, including Dagaare and Wali, spoken in Upper West Region of Ghana, along with Frafra and Kusaal, spoken in the Upper East Region of the country.
In Togo, Dagbanli is spoken in the Savanes Region on the border with Ghana.