Duli language

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Duli, also called Gewe or Gey, is an extinct language that was once spoken in northern Cameroon, near the Benue and Mayo-Kebbi rivers, including around Pitoa and Garoua. It is part of the Niger–Congo family, but its exact classification is unclear. Some scholars view Duli and Gewe as the same language or as dialects of one language, while others place Duli in a separate Adamawa–Gur group or different relation within the region.

The language disappeared by the late 20th century. The Gey people today number about 1,000 in the east of Pitoa (North Region); earlier estimates were around 1,900. Most Gey now speak Fulfulde and recognize the Lamido of Tchéboa as their ruler.

Duli was poorly documented, with only a few words recorded (notably in Strümpell’s 1922/23 word list). As a result, there is very little surviving information about the language, and its precise relationship to Gewe (Gey) is debated among linguists.