Britannica Sources used in this answer

Where did Kay Williamson place the likely homeland of the Benue-Congo languages?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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.

Based on the principle of least moves, the scholar Kay Williamson proposed that the original homeland of the Benue-Congo languages was located in the area surrounding the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.1