Douala | |
---|---|
Native to | Cameroon |
Ethnicity | Douala, Mungo |
Native speakers
|
(90,000 cited 1982) 2 million L1 and L2 speakers in Douala (2013) |
Dialects |
|
Language codes | |
ISO 639-2 | dua |
ISO 639-3 |
|
Glottolog | dual1243 |
A.24–26 |
Jo | |
---|---|
Native to | Cameroon |
Region | around Douala |
Native speakers
|
None |
Douala-based pidgin
|
|
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
None (mis ) |
Glottolog | None |
A.20A |
Duala (also spelt Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla and Dwala) is a dialect cluster spoken by the Duala and Mungo peoples of Cameroon. Douala belongs to the Bantu language family, in a subgroup called Sawabantu. Maho (2009) treats Douala as a cluster of five languages: Douala proper, Bodiman, Oli (Ewodi, Wuri), Pongo and Mongo. He also notes a Douala-based pidgin named Jo.
The song "Soul Makossa", as well as pop songs that repeated its lyrics, internationally popularised the Duala word for "(I) dance", "makossa". The song Alane by artist Wes Madiko is sung in Duala and reached #1 position in over 9 European countries.