Igala is a Yoruboid language, spoken by the Igala ethnic group of Nigeria. In 1989 an estimated 800,000 spoke Igala, primarily in Kogi State, though current estimates place the number of Igala speakers at upwards of 1.6 million. Dialects include Ibaji, Idah, Dekina, Ogugu, Ankpa, Ebu, and the Olumbanasaa group (Anambra West); it is believed that these languages share some similarities with the Yoruba and Itsekiri languages. Igala, living on the left bank of the Niger River below its junction with the Benue River. Their language belongs to the Benue–Congo branch of the Niger–Congo family. Their ruler, the Àtá, traditionally also governed two other groups, the Bassa Nge and the Bass Nkome, who live between the Igala and the Benue River.

Phonology

Igala's phonology is as follows: Igala has seven oral vowels and five nasal vowels.

Alphabet

The Igala alphabet has a total of thirty-one (31) letters.

Vowels

Igala has seven vowel qualities and seven vowel letters: ⟨a⟩, ⟨e⟩ ⟨ẹ⟩ ⟨i⟩, ⟨o⟩, ⟨ọ⟩, and ⟨u⟩.

Tones

Igala also has five tones: extra high, high, mid-high, mid, and low.

Homographs