Overview
E-Z2335 is a parallel branch to E-Z2336 within the broader E-Z1725 cluster, a lineage complex that holds a central position in the male genetic landscape of West and Central Africa. Although less numerous and less geographically widespread than E-Z2336, E-Z2335 retains strong phylogenetic identity and represents an important component of Holocene population structure in regions spanning southern Nigeria, Cameroon and adjacent parts of the Congo Basin. Its age and internal branching pattern place it within demographic processes linked to agricultural intensification, the formation of stable village networks and early proto-state structures across the forest–savanna ecotone. E-Z2335 appears to have maintained more localized continuity than E-Z2336, suggesting deeper residency in core areas of the Niger–Cross River and Cameroon highland zones, with only select downstream lineages participating in broader expansions.
Geographic distribution
Present-day E-Z2335 is most prevalent among populations in southeastern Nigeria, southwestern Cameroon and parts of the Cross River and Lower Benue regions. It is also detected in several Bantoid-speaking and Niger–Congo groups inhabiting the Cameroon volcanic line and neighboring forest regions. Though found at lower frequencies than E-Z2336 in Bantu-speaking areas further south, some E-Z2335 subclades clearly traveled with or were incorporated into early Bantu-related population movements, appearing today at minor levels in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. African diaspora data indicate that E-Z2335 is less common than E-Z2336 but still present, consistent with localized but stable representation in historical populations affected by Atlantic-era displacement.
Ancient DNA
- Due to taphonomic constraints in the tropics, direct ancient DNA from E-Z2335 has not yet been published, but phylogenetic ages align with archaeological and linguistic models describing increasingly sedentary communities between the Niger Delta, Cross River drainage and Cameroon uplands during the mid-to-late Holocene.
- The internal timing of E-Z2335 branching suggests that several of its lineages emerged prior to major Bantu expansions, situating them among pre-Bantu demographic layers of West Central Africa.
- Patterns of diversity and micro-regional clustering within E-Z2335 echo settlement permanence known from archaeological sites in the forest–savanna transition zone.
Phylogeny & subclades
The E-Z2335 clade contains several modest but clearly structured downstream branches. Unlike E-Z2336, which exhibits substantial radiation and long-distance dispersals, E-Z2335 tends to show tighter geographic clustering, reinforcing the idea of a more restricted ancestral range. Some subclades link strongly to populations of southern Nigeria and western Cameroon, while others hint at limited expansions into the Congo Basin. These phylogenetic features highlight a lineage that played a stabilizing role in the early demographic matrix of the Gulf of Guinea rather than serving as a primary driver of southward expansion.
- E-Z2335* (basal, localized)
- Niger Delta and Cross River microclades
- Cameroon highland sub-branches
- Small Congo Basin–related downstream lineages
Notes & context
E-Z2335 is particularly valuable for reconstructing micro-regional genetic structure in West Central Africa. Its more concentrated spread provides contrast to the widespread radiation of E-Z2336, offering a complementary lens through which to study localized male ancestry, linguistic diversity and the interaction of agricultural communities during the Holocene. The branch’s modest size is not indicative of historical insignificance; rather, it reflects deep continuity within a limited geographical and cultural sphere.
References & external links