The Influence of Hausa Language on Tsuresha (Gungagawa Language) of Yauri Emirate.

Abstract:

The word Gungawa is used by the Hausa people in Yauri to designate all those people who have made the islands on the River Niger their homes. The islands in the River Niger in Yauri Emirate were therefore, the traditional dwelling places of the Gungawa. They are a distinct ethnic group in Yauri Emirate who called themselves Baresha and called their language Tsuresha. At present, the Baresha (Gungawa) are found in Yauri, Ngaski and Shanga Local Government Areas (Yauri Emirate) in Kebbi State. Few are also found in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State, largely due to migrations. These people have been in Yauri for over 500 years now. However, since the Kainji Dam resettlement exercise of 1968 the Tsuresha (Gunganci) is facing serious challenges especially from the Hausa dominant language in the area. Consequently, the Baresha became much more in contact with other people, particularly the Hausa speaking people the pressure of whose language the Tsuresha could not withstand. The end result is that, Tsuresha is becoming endangered. They now speak Hausa language fluently, dress like the Hausa people and most often identify themselves as Hausa not as Baresha (Gungawa). This paper aims at exploring the influence of Hausa language on the language of this distinct ethnic group of Yauri Emirate origin.