Loma (ethnic group)
Encyclopedia
The Loma are a Manden ethnic group
living primarily in the mountainous, sparsely populated border region between Guinea
and Liberia
. In 1991, their population was estimated in 250,000 Loma between both countries.
The Loma speak a language
in the Southwestern branch of the Mande family
. The language is similar to the Kpelle
, Mende
, and Bandi
languages.
The Malinke, Konyaka, and Kissi refer to the Loma as Toma. Loma today refer to themselves as Löömàgìtì (lɔːmàɡìtì, or Löghömagiti lɔɣɔmaɡiti in Guinea), meaning "Loma people," and call their language Löömàgòòi
lɔːmàɡòːi or Löghömàgòòi lɔɣɔmàɡòːi).
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
living primarily in the mountainous, sparsely populated border region between Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. In 1991, their population was estimated in 250,000 Loma between both countries.
The Loma speak a language
Loma language
Loma is a Mande language spoken by the Loma people of Liberia and Guinea.Dialects of Loma proper in Liberia are Gizima, Wubomei, Ziema, Bunde, Buluyiema...
in the Southwestern branch of the Mande family
Mande languages
The Mande languages are spoken in several countries in West Africa by the Mandé people and include Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Bissa, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mende, Susu, Yacouba, Vai, and Ligbi...
. The language is similar to the Kpelle
Kpelle
The Kpelle people are located primarily in an area of central Liberia extending into Guinea. They speak the Kpelle language, which belongs to the Mande language family....
, Mende
Mende language
Mende is a major language of Sierra Leone, with some speakers in neighboring Liberia. It is spoken by the Mende people and by other ethnic groups as a regional lingua franca in southern Sierra Leone....
, and Bandi
Bandi
* Bandi or Gbandi; people of Liberia and Guinea, and their language.* Bandi, a hamlet in the Bandala Valley.* Bandi River, a tributary of the Luni River.* Bandi, a 1957 Indian movie.Fictional name:* Bandi, a fictional race in Star Trek....
languages.
The Malinke, Konyaka, and Kissi refer to the Loma as Toma. Loma today refer to themselves as Löömàgìtì (lɔːmàɡìtì, or Löghömagiti lɔɣɔmaɡiti in Guinea), meaning "Loma people," and call their language Löömàgòòi
Loma language
Loma is a Mande language spoken by the Loma people of Liberia and Guinea.Dialects of Loma proper in Liberia are Gizima, Wubomei, Ziema, Bunde, Buluyiema...
lɔːmàɡòːi or Löghömàgòòi lɔɣɔmàɡòːi).