Guthrie (1967–1971) could not accept that Ekoid formed part of Bantu. His first improbable explanation was that its ‘Bantuisms’ resulted from speakers of a Bantu language being ‘absorbed’ by those who spoke a ‘Western Sudanic’ language, in other words, the apparent parallels, were simply a massive block of loanwords.
Guthrie (1967–1971) could not accept that Ekoid was part of the Bantu family. His initial far-fetched theory was that its ‘Bantuisms’ resulted from speakers of a Bantu language being absorbed into those who spoke a ‘Western Sudanic’ language, essentially reducing the apparent similarities to a massive block of loanwords.