A Cultural Guide to Kenya E-Book

Rene Verburgt

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

You've suddenly found yourself in Kenya, what should you do, first of all, you should be reading this book. This book is fairly short but will give you just the right amount of information you would ever need to know about the Kenyan culture from its clothing to its delicious food. 

Leseprobe

Rene Verburgt

A Cultural Guide to Kenya

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Introduction

Kenya, often referred to as distribution and commercial powerhouse in the Eastern African Region, situated on the Eastern sector of the African continent, a population of 47,564,296 people occupy approximately 580,000 km² of land which makes it 47th largest country by landmass and the 27th in terms of population. Kenya is bordered by five countries and one ocean; with Ethiopia to the North, Somalia to the North-East, Tanzania to the South, Uganda to the West, South Sudan to the North-West and the Indian Ocean to the South East. The country’s capital city, Nairobi, a Maasai phrase for cool water who occupied the land before colonial rule, is located in South-Central Kenya where a population of approximately 4.4 million people inhabit the city, other major cities include Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru. Kenya boasts an impressive 68 languages spoken in the country with the two official languages of the country being English and Swahili. Although the equator strikes through Kenya, temperatures of many cities are moderate because of the altitude at which they were built on. Kenya was under British rule for 43 years, where the British exploited the country for its ivory and tea amongst others for Economic gain, until 1963 when the country gained Independence after which the first Kenyan president, Jomo Kenyatta, took control of the country, since then 3 other presidents have taken control including the first presidents son Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.

Tribes

Kenya is a land of great diversity within its cultures and people. There are approximately 44 tribes according to the Ministry of East African Community and Regional Development. The biggest six tribes: Kikuyu, Kamba, Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai, Luhya make up about 50 per cent of the population of Kenya hence they have a great influence on the Kenyan culture as a whole. All Kenyan People speak the national language of Kiswahili and English. Therefore, most Kenyan people will find it easy to communicate with people within their nation, the majority of the people also speak their tribal language. Tribes in Kenya are big and small with some tribes being so big they are subdivided into subtribes and some tribes are so small they are not even acknowledged by the government. The recognised tribes include:

Ameru: Igembe, Tigania, Imenti, Igoji, Muthambi, Chuka, Mwimbi, Tharaka, Miutini, Embu, Kalenjin: Kipsigis, Nandi, Keiyo, Marakwet, Tugen, Terik, Pokot, Sabaot, Kamba, Kikuyu, Kisii, Kuria, Luhya: Khayo, Marachi, Kisa, Isukha, Idakho, Batsotso, Banyore, Gisu, Banyala, Marama, Tachoni, Wanga, Tiriki, Samia, Luo, Maasai, Mijikenda: Jibana, Rabai, Ribe, Kauma, Duruma, Kambe, Chonyi, Orma, Rendille, Samburu, Somali, Suba, Swahili Taita, Taveta, Turkana, Gabra, Mbeere, Nubi, Tharaka, Ilchamus, Njemps, Borana, Galla, Gosha, Konso, Sakuye, Waat, Isaak, Walwana, Dasenach, Galjeel, Leysan, Bulji, Teso.

Bantu speaking tribes

Kikuyu, Kamba, Meru, Embu, Tharaka, Gussi, Kuria, Mikikenda, Pokomo, Segeju, Taveta, Taita.

Nilotic speaking tribes

Samburu, Teso, Maasai, Turkana, Elmolo, Kalenjin, Marakwet, Tugen, Pokot, Elkony, Luo.

Cushitic speaking tribes

Rendille, Somali, Boran, Gabbra, Boni.