Ekpeye (Ẹkpeye)

Ekpeye is a member of the Igboid branch of Volta-Niger language family. It is spoken by about 226,000 people in Rivers State in southern Nigeria, particularly between the Orashi and Sambreiro rivers in Ahoada West LGA in Rivers State, and in Yenagoa LGA in Bayelsa State.

Ekpeye is also known as Ekpaffia, Ẹkpeye or Ẹkpẹyẹ. Dialects include Ako, Ubye, Upata and Igbuduya. A way to write it with the Latin alphabet was devised by David J. Clark in 1971. Other orthographies have been created since then by the Ekpeye Language Committee and others. Ekpeye is used to some extent on the radio.

Ekpeye alphabet (Benin)

Ekpeye alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Ekpeye (Excel)

Sample text

È èeē. Ìyàà. Ùdhùmà ùubhè. Ụbhadhumộ, mụ ọ̀kwulukwò ze ụya ị̀sàmùlù. Ụbhaze ụya ị̀sàmùlù, mụ uwūldhiga ọnuya, ọnuya zhịẹ-ẹ̄. Ùwùdhìgà ọnuya, ọnuya zhịẹ-ẹ̄. Mụ ụwẹ̄jịệ aadhị̀ ùnyè bhụ ùbù ọnuya, mụ ụgbā ebhè. Ụbhadhụma àdhị yā, ụ̀gbàgbòwhọ̀ bụ̀ àda nye ezè. Mụ ubūltuộ àda nye ezè, mụ udhebhēke l'olu ushi. Ụbhadhuma kpọm̀, selē, mụ ukwilniệ ewu bhụ ǹgwa aze ụya ị̀sàmùlù. Mụ ewu kwūlniệlà bhụ ǹgwa là. Mụ ukwūni ewu bhụ ǹgwa bhụ ịgalaga ibe m, bhụ mụ ya gālagajịnệ ibe ẹmâ; bhụ ịbhadhumalẹ, bhụ ịwẹjịwhụtò ogbo ènwè, bhụ a ịgbā. Mụ ewu whộ.

Translation

Once upon a time, Tortoise went hunting for animals. He looked for animals without success; there were no animals. Then, he saw where a group of animals lived and he immediately shot at them. When he got to the site, he discovered to his amazement and fright that he had shot the king's daughter, the princess. He thought for a while, then carried the dead princess and hid her on top of a tree. The next day, he approached the Rabbit to accompany him for hunting. The Rabbit accepted to accompany him. Preparations were made and at the crack of dawn they left for hunting. He admonished the Rabbit to pass on the right side while he will go on the left side. Secondly, he told the Rabbit to shoot at sight, especially at the group of monkeys foraging on the trees, the rabbit agreed.

Source: Ekpeye Orthography. I.E. Ngulube. 2011.

Sample videos in and about Ekpeye

Links

Information about Ekpeye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekpeye_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekpeye
https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/ekpe1253
https://speakingtonguespodcast.com/inside-ekpeye-culture-the-language-traditions-and-future-of-this-nigerian-community/
https://speakekpeyefluently.com/ekpeye-tones-and-orthography/
https://speakekpeyefluently.com/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280579922_EKPEYE_ORTHOGRAPHY_by_IE_Ngulube

Volta-Niger languages

Aja, Ayizo, Belanda Viri, Ebira, Edo, Ekpeye, Ewe, Fon, Gen, Gun, Igala, Igbo, Ikwerre, Isoko, Nupe, Ogba, Saxwe, Urhobo, Yorùbá

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 11.03.25. Last modified: 12.03.25

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