Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers in Africa, spoken as a first language by some 27 million people. In West Africa, Hausa is commonly spoken throughout southern Niger and northern Nigeria. You can also find it in small communities in Ghana. It has developed into a lingua franca across much of Western Africa for purposes of trade.
Lifestyle
Most popular languages spoken in West Africa
The cultural diversity of Africa cannot be overestimated. There are around 2,000 languages spoken in Africa, with Nigerians alone speaking over 250.
In West Africa, however, here are the languages with the highest number of speakers.
1. French
Many countries in Africa were colonized by France, and more than 50 million people in Africa can speak French. Coincidentally, many of these speakers are in West Africa. In nations like Benin, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, French is either the official language or used very commonly in society.
2. English
In West Africa, English is the primary language of many countries. Nations like Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana speak it officially.
3 . Yoruba
Yoruba is considered one of the most widespread Nigerian languages as it has 20 million estimated speakers across Africa, according to Buzz Nigeria. Outside Nigeria, you can find large Yoruba-speaking communities in Togo and Benin Republic. Smaller communities can be found in Sierra Leone, Liberia and other African countries.
- RELATED: “My wife pushed me to go back to school” – Wilfred Ndidi
- RELATED: Officers from the Nigerian Navy train with US Army Special Forces
4. Arabic
Arabic is the most widespread language in Africa and is the official or national language of Mauritania, Mali and Niger.
5. Hausa
-
Quiz n Teaser2 days ago
Nigerian Celebrities Quiz to Test Your Knowledge
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Kelly Hansome explains how his problem started after Timaya introduced him to his babymama.
-
Sports4 days ago
Samuel Eto’o handed 22 months prison sentence
-
Business & Economy3 days ago
Why Diesel Is So Expensive In Nigeria Today!
-
Business & Economy5 days ago
Foreign Airlines React to FG’s $450m ticket revenue block
-
Sports2 days ago
Salah reacts as Mane leaves Liverpool for Bayern
-
Entertainment1 day ago
Cubana Chief Priest under criticism for questioning Mercy Chinwo about her engagement.
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Monalisa Stephen reveals how she had diabetes since she was young.