Native speakers 20,000 (2000) Glottolog unem1238 | ISO 639-3 une | |
Language family Niger–CongoAtlantic–CongoVolta–NigeryeaiEdoidNorth-CentralYekheeUneme |
Uneme (Ileme) is an Edoid language of Nigeria. Uneme is the language spoken by the Uneme people of the present day Edo State, Nigeria. Uneme is one of the minority tribes in Edo State. Currently there are ten Uneme towns or communities scattered in three Local Government Areas of Edo State. We have Uneme-Anegbette, Uneme-Udochi and Unemeh-Imiava, located in Etsako Central Local Government Area; Uneme-Uzanu, located in Etsako East Local Government Area; and Uneme-Nekhua, Uneme-Akiosu, Uneme-Erhurun, Uneme-Akpama, Uneme-Ekpedo and Uneme-Ayetoro, located in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, all in the Northern part of Edo State, Nigeria. The Uneme Tribal house was the greatest blacksmith in the early Benin Kingdom before the Portuguese and the British invaded.