Nzema, also known as Nzima or Appolo, is a Central Tano language spoken by the Nzema people of southwestern Ghana and southeastern Ivory Coast. It is partially intelligible with Jwira-Pepesa and is closely related to Baoulé.
Being a Bia language, Nzema is one of the many Akan languages, and it has had considerable influence from other Akan languages, especially Twi and Fante. There are notable towns in Nzemaland such as Bonyere, Nkroful, Half Assini, Axim, Eikwe, Baku, Atuabo, Beyin, Essiama and Anokyi.
The following allophones are reported, among others. [p] is rare.
Of Nzema's ten vowels, eight may be nasalized: /é/, /êÃÂ/, /ÃÂÃÂ/, /ÃÂÃÂ/, /ã/, /à ©/, /ÃÂÃÂ/ and /ÃÂÃÂ/.