Which three major language families are spoken in western Africa?

The three major language families primarily spoken in western Africa are the Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Afro-Asiatic families.1

• Niger-Congo: This is the most widespread family in the region, encompassing numerous branches such as Mande, Atlantic, Kwa, Gur, and Benue-Congo.12
• Nilo-Saharan: These languages are spoken along the savanna zone south of the Sahara, extending from the middle Niger River eastward to the Nile.31
• Afro-Asiatic: This family is represented in western Africa notably by languages such as Hausa, which is widely spoken as a lingua franca along the northern fringe of sub-Saharan western Africa.1