Mofu
Encyclopedia
Mofu is a designation for various ethnic groups and languages they speak which are located in northern Cameroon
, near the border with Nigeria
. The Mofu live in the Mandara Mountains
of Cameroon's Far North Province
.
Some of these groups accept the name “Mofu”, for example the Mofu-Duvangar, Mofu-Durum, Mofu-Wazang, Mofu-Meri and the Mofu-Gudur. Others do not use the appellation “Mofu”. They simply say they are Zulgo, Gemjek, Mbuko, Moloko. They use this name to refer to themselves and their language. Most of the groups with the Mofu prefix traditionally refer to themselves as “People of the Mountains” or their language as “Language of the Mountains.”
The languages they speak are considered separate languages of the Biu–Mandara branch of the Chadic language family
.
The Mofu-Wazan were featured in the documentary Master of the Killer Ants, a Nova
program episode, which aired on PBS
in November 2007.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, near the border with Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The Mofu live in the Mandara Mountains
Mandara Mountains
The Mandara Mountains are a volcanic range extending about 200km along the northern part of the Cameroon-Nigeria border, from the Benue River in the south to the north-west of Maroua in the north . The highest elevation is 1,494 m , the summit of Mount Oupay .The region is densely populated,...
of Cameroon's Far North Province
Far North Province
The Far North Region , also known as the Extreme North Region , is the northernmost constituent province of the Republic of Cameroon. It borders the North Region to the south, Chad to the east, and Nigeria to the west. The capital is Maroua.The province is one of Cameroon's most culturally diverse...
.
Some of these groups accept the name “Mofu”, for example the Mofu-Duvangar, Mofu-Durum, Mofu-Wazang, Mofu-Meri and the Mofu-Gudur. Others do not use the appellation “Mofu”. They simply say they are Zulgo, Gemjek, Mbuko, Moloko. They use this name to refer to themselves and their language. Most of the groups with the Mofu prefix traditionally refer to themselves as “People of the Mountains” or their language as “Language of the Mountains.”
The languages they speak are considered separate languages of the Biu–Mandara branch of the Chadic language family
Chadic languages
The Chadic languages constitute a language family of perhaps 200 languages spoken across northern Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon, belonging to the Afroasiatic phylum...
.
The Mofu-Wazan were featured in the documentary Master of the Killer Ants, a Nova
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
program episode, which aired on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in November 2007.