Maba

Maba is an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Maba in the southern Philippines. It is closely related to the languages of the Sama–Bajaw group. Maba has a writing system based on the Latin alphabet. The Maba people have a rich oral tradition. Their folklore includes tales of heroes and deities. Maba also has a unique form of poetry called the balak. Maba is a endangered language. According to the most recent census, there are only about 8,000 Maba speakers remaining. Most Maba speakers are middle-aged or older. Fewer than 1,000 Maba children are learning the language.