Gura (Gùrá) is a Jarawan language spoken in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. It is one of the Lame languages.Blench, Roger. 2025. An introduction to Gura [bma, a previously undocumented Jarawan Bantu language of Central Nigeria]. Cambridge: Kay William Educational Foundation (KWEF).
A preliminary dictionary of Gura was compiled by Roger Blench in 2025.Blench, Roger. 2025. Gura dictionary. Cambridge: Kay William Educational Foundation (KWEF).
Background Gura speakers are primarily subsistence farmers who grow sorghum, millet, yams, and cowpeas. 90% of Gura speakers are Muslims, although there is also a Christian minority.Blench, Roger. 2026. The Jarawan Bantu languages in Nigeria; what is new research telling us? 15 July 2026, Jos Linguistic Circle.
There three major clans (nzali), each of which is led by a chief (ntuŋ) and has four lineages (ndo).
Distribution Gura is spoken in 10 villages in Toro LGA, Bauchi State. The village names below are all in the Gura language, except for 3 villages (Saya, Kulfana, and Rafi Ciwo) that have Hausa names.
Saya (Hausa name) Fishere Mɔttɔ Gùrádē Ríígà Kúlfànà (Hausa name) Cɔ̀kɔ̀ Zàlàw Rafi Ciwo (Hausa name) Jáwándò
Phonology Gura has six vowels, which are /a, e, i, o, u, ɨ/. All vowels have length contrast except for /ɨ/. Similarly, neighbouring West Chadic languages also tend to have six vowels.
Gura has two level tones, as well as a falling tone.
Plural nouns are marked by the prefix mV̀-.
There is a frozen noun class system.
References