LAMA (LAMBA, LOSSO) [LAS]
117,400 in Togo (1991 Vanderaa). Population total all countries 177,400 or more. Region of Kande, Lama. Also spoken in Benin, Ghana. Linguistic affiliation: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern. Dialects: KANTE, KADJALLA, DEFALE. It is related to Tem and Kabiyé. Leon and Yaka, and 2 to 4 other villages south of Kande, between Lama and Kabiyé, and west of Niamtougou (Nawdm) may need separate literature. Bilingualism in French, Kabiyé. 'Lama' is their name for the language and people. 'Lamba' is the French name. 'Losso' refers to people on the Losso Plain, including the Nawdeba (Nawdm). Investigation needed: intelligibility with Leon-Yaka villages. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 20%. Roman. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian. NT 1993.