Languages of Togo and Benin

Postby **vijayjohn** » 2021-11-26, 17:46

Togo is just east of Ghana, and Benin is just east of Togo and west of Nigeria. French is the official language of both countries, but Borgu Fulfulde is also widely spoken in both. The Kwa language Ewe and the Gurunsi language Kabiye are also widely spoken in Togo and are even recognized as national languages there, whereas Kabiye and especially Ewe have much fewer speakers in Benin. In Benin, another Kwa language called Fon is much more widely spoken, as are Gorgal Fulfulde, Hausa, and Yoruba.

Both Kwa and Gurunsi languages are spoken in both countries, with Kwa being spoken closer to the southern coastline as usual. Many Oti-Volta languages are also spoken in the northern parts of both countries. Several Yoruboid languages are spoken in Benin, two of which spill over across the Togolese border. Two Mande languages (Kyanga and Boko) are spoken in Benin, and one (Bissa) spills over into Togo from the border with Ghana. A Songhai language called Dendi is also spoken in northeastern Benin and straddles the border with Nigeria.