How can noun-class prefixes change into suffixes over time?

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Thematic map of Africa showing the distribution of Niger-Congo language branches. Distinct colors represent language groups such as Atlantic, Mande, Gur, Kwa, Benue-Congo, and Bantu, with Bantu languages covering most of central, eastern, and southern Africa. A numbered key lists prominent languages in each area, and country borders are marked for reference. — Niger-Congo languages Map showing the branches and distribution of the Niger-Congo languages.

In the study of Niger-Congo languages, while noun classes are predominantly marked by prefixes, there is evidence suggesting that some languages have transitioned from using prefixes to suffixes over time.12

Although a definitive explanation for this shift remains elusive, linguists hypothesize that this change may have been driven by the development of a binder or marker positioned at the end of a noun phrase. Over time, this terminal element could have evolved into a suffix, eventually leading to the loss of the original prefix system.1

While many languages in the family retain the older prefix-based system, the presence of suffixes in certain branches illustrates the dynamic nature of these grammatical structures as they evolve across different linguistic groups.12