The Duhwa tribe (also known as Karfa, Kerifa, or Nzuhwi) is one of the smaller ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Here are the key things to know about the Duhwa tribe:

1. Location and Population

• Location: The Duhwa people are located in Plateau State, in the north-central region of Nigeria.
  • Specifically, they are found in the Sha and Manguna Districts of the Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA).
  • The language is primarily spoken in one main village, Karfa, which is divided into three sub-villages.
• Population: The estimated population of Duhwa speakers is relatively small, generally ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 people.
• Isolation: The area where the Duhwa people live is noted as being particularly remote and isolated.

2. Language

• Language Name: The language is also called Duhwa, or sometimes referred to by the village name, Karfa (ISO 639-3 code: kbz).
• Classification: It belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family, specifically classified as one of the Western Ron (A.4) languages within the West Chadic branch.
• Vibrancy: The Duhwa language is considered to have vigorous and sustainable oral use. Parents and caregivers actively use the language with their children, and children speak the language very well.

3. Culture and Society

Detailed information on the unique social and religious practices of the Duhwa people specifically is limited in available resources, but the community structure is known to be centered around a few closely-located villages.

• Livelihood: Like many groups in the region, their livelihood is likely based on farming and agriculture, which is typical of the Plateau State’s environment.
• Multilingualism: Adults in the community often exhibit limited multilingualism, with some knowledge of neighboring languages like Ron, Kulere, Turkwam, and also varying degrees of proficiency in Hausa (often used in churches) and English (primarily used in schools).

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Note on “Dukawa” vs. “Duhwa”

It is important to note the distinction between Duhwa and Dukawa (or Dukkawa), as the names are sometimes confused:

Tribe Name	Primary Location	Language Family
Duhwa	Plateau State (North Central)	Afro-Asiatic (Chadic)
Dukawa	Niger and Kebbi States (North West)	Niger-Congo (Benue-Congo)

The Dukawa people are a larger group found far to the west in the Niger and Kebbi States, and they have distinct traditions, such as a wrestling ritual for a boy’s journey into manhood and a history of being fishermen and farmers. Sources