Final answer:
The statement is true; the Niger-Kordofanian is another term for the Niger-Congo language family, which is the largest language group in Africa with a wide distribution across the continent, including a significant presence in countries like Tanzania and Nigeria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Niger-Kordofanian is the largest language group in Africa is true. Niger-Kordofanian is actually an older term that is synonymous with the Niger-Congo language family, which comprises a large number of languages spoken across West, Central, Southeast, and Southern Africa. This family includes the Bantu languages, extending from western Africa to the far south. The map provided in Figure 9.12 shows the extensive distribution of language groups resulting from ancient migrations, highlighting the prominence of the Niger-Congo family.
In Tanzania, over 100 ethnic groups coexist, with Swahili serving not only as the indigenous language but also as the lingua franca, further demonstrating the linguistic diversity within the continent. Similarly, in Nigeria, languages from the Niger-Congo family are spoken by numerous ethnic groups, including Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. This underlines the significant influence and wide distribution of languages within the Niger-Congo family across Africa.