Hya in Cameroon

Hya
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People Name: Hya
Country: Cameroon
10/40 Window: No
Population: 1,800
World Population: 4,800
Primary Language: Hya
Primary Religion: Christianity
Christian Adherents: 82.00 %
Evangelicals: 2.00 %
Scripture: Unspecified
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: No
People Cluster: Chadic
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kamsa live in the village of Amsa in Cameroon, near the border with Nigeria. They farm the land at the foot of the mountain, Amsa. The area is very poor. They call their language Margi, while linguists refer to it as Hya. It is related to the Psikye (also called Kapsiki).

The people are mostly Catholics. They use the Psikye Bible in church for all aspects of the church service. Few of the older generation speak French, they say that only the younger people are able. The adults are very happy for the youth to speak French since they live in a francophone country, and they need French to communicate with outsiders. The mother tongue has not been written, but the people say that they favor literacy. Hya and the neighboring language of Psikye top the list of languages that they would like to learn to read.

The area in which the village is located is difficult to access. During the dry season a four wheel drive vehicle is needed to reach them. During the rainy season the roads are considered impassable, and they are cut off from most other villages.

Text Source:   Anonymous