The Kwavi language is the dialect of Maasai spoken by the Kwavi or Parakuyo (aka Baraguyu ) sub-tribe of the Maasai in Tanzania. It was formerly listed as "unclassified" by the Ethnologue, which corrected this mistake in the 15th edition.
According to Hurskainen (1994), "The Parakuyo (earlier also called Ilparakuyo, Baraguyu, Kwavi, Lumbwa, and Iloikop) are a Maa -speaking ethnic group scatttered over a large area in the northeastern and central parts of Tanzania", while Beidelman (1960) confirms that "Kwavi" and "Baraguyu" are synonymous.
Bibliography
- T.O. Beidelman. "The Baraguyu", in Tanganyika notes and records, 1960, no. 55, p. 244-278.
- Arvi Hurskainen. "Plant taxonomy of the Parakuyo (Tanzania)" in Nordic Journal of African Studies, 1994, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 117-162
- Karsten Legère. 2002. The "Languages of Tanzania" Project: background, resources and perspectives. Africa and Asia, No. 2, 2002.
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