Tribes of Kenya
Ethnic groups are: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya
14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%,
non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%. Most Kenyans are bilingual in
English and Swahili, also a large percentage speak the mother tongue of their
ethnic tribe.
Due to the presence and influence of
Christian missionaries across the country during the 19th century and in the
years since, some 45% of Kenyans identify as Christians today. The Catholic and
Anglican Churches are the most well established in the country, and
missionaries from these churches and a number of others maintain a presence in
the country to this day offering medical, educational, and religious aid.
As is the case in many countries
today, Kenya also has a growing Islamic community. Mombasa on the country's
coast has the largest population of Muslims, but the religion has a presence in
most regions and cities. Roughly 10% of Kenyans identify as Muslim.
The country is also home to a
growing Indian population, meaning that Buddhism and Sikhism are not uncommon.
Prior to the advent of Christianity in Kenya, the nation's native people
practised a number of traditional tribal beliefs. Each tribe typically
practised monotheism – the belief that there was a single God, known as 'Ngai'
or 'Were' among other names. Each tribe also had its own creation mythology and
beliefs that generally tied in closely with the land in which they lived.
Sadly, many tribes have since foregone their original beliefs in favour of
Christianity. Of those who still practice their original beliefs, the Maasai,
Samburu, and Turkana tribes are the most prominent. This isn't to say that
modern Kenyans do not still believe in some facets of their original religions
– with ancestor worship and even witchcraft still believed in by some.
Kenya
Maasai
The most famous tribal people not
only in Kenya but in the world, the Maasai people have spread out across Kenya
and Tanzania and remain largely in touch with their original beliefs and culture.
Where most Kenyan tribes have
adopted the modern western lifestyle, the Maasai people lead lives quite
similar to those they have lived for thousands of years. Perhaps the most
famous practice of the Maasai is their proud warrior tradition, around which
much of their social life revolves. When a Maasai boy reaches the appropriate
age (generally between the age of 12 and 25) his father may decide that he is
ready to become a man. After a painful circumcision ritual, the young warriors
to be spend several months away from home for training and further ceremony,
and generally live apart from their tribe until they return as senior warriors.
Senior warriors are important
figures within their tribe, charged with defending the village. They are able
to take multiple wives provided they have the wealth to support them. In Maasai
terms, wealth is measured in the amount of cattle an individual owns; although
modern Maasai may hold other jobs that generate income.
Cattle remain a central part of
Maasai life to this day, and the animals comprise a large portion of the Maasai
diet. They do not only eat the meat and drink the milk of the animals, but also
drink the blood. Other animals the Maasai eat include goats and sheep. Despite
the abundance of game animals such as antelope in Kenya, the Maasai do not eat
these animals. They believe God (known to the Maasai as Enkai)s gave them
goats, sheep, and cattle for eating, and do not need the native animals.
Priests of the Maasai religion are
known as laibon, and are believed to be a direct descendent of Enkai – who is
both male and female. Laibon are not political leaders, but are believed to
have the power to heal or to predict the future. Because of their reliance on
herd animals over agriculture, the Maasai typically need a great deal of land
to maintain their nomadic lifestyles.
Conservancies in Kenya and Tanzania
cater to this wandering lifestyle, and it is possible for tourists to visit
Maasai villages in both countries.
While those villages that allow
visitors tend to be somewhat less authentic as a result of their exposure to
western culture, it is still a fascinating cultural experience and a popular
part of any Kenyan safari.
The
Embu Tribe
Dwelling on the fertile south
eastern side of Mount Kenya, the Embu comprise roughly half a million people
and are closely tied to the neighbouring Mbeere tribe with whom they still
trade. The Embu are typically farmers, raising crops both to feed their families
and to sell. Embu typically have smaller families than in other prominent
African tribes, and both males and females are circumcised.
The original Embu religion revered a
god named Ngai who lived atop Mount Kenya, but modern Embu are predominantly
Christian.
The
Kalenjin Tribe
Made up of between 3 and 4 million
Kenyans, the concept of 'Kalenjin' is a relatively new one, having been
pioneered by as many as ten Nandi speaking tribes in the 1950s as a way to gain
greater political power. Because of this amalgamation of multiple tribes, the
history of the Kalenjin people is a difficult one to pin down. There is no one
unified history for these people, but they do share similar cultural traits
including a strict age group social structure, circumcision, polygamy, and a
strong oral storytelling tradition.
The Kalenjin religion believed in a
god called Asis, who was symbolised by the sun. The spirits of departed
ancestors were also revered, and sacrifices were made in their honour. These
days, like many tribes in Kenya, the Kalenjin practice Christianity mixed with
some of their traditional beliefs. The Kalenjin are most famous around the
world as a tribe that produces accomplished runners. Of the 39 gold medals
Kenyans have won for running at the Summer Olympics, 75% of the medal winners
have come from the Kalenjin tribe.
The
Kamba Tribe
A tribe of agriculturalists and
traders, the Kamba (sometimes known as the Akamba) call the central and eastern
parts of Kenya home. The Kamba are also known as accomplished artists, and
Kamba pottery and wood carving are popular souvenirs for visitors to Kenya.
Originally from the west of Tansania, the Kamba migrated sometime in the 18th
century and have since settled in eastern Kenya. Large populations of the Kamba
can be found to this day in modern coastal cities.
Like many Kenyan tribes, the Kamba
practice circumcision (both male and female) and are a patriarchal society in
which the male is the head of the household. Cattle are an important form of
currency, and a bride to be's family must be paid in cattle before marriage can
be arranged. The Kamba originally believed in a God called Ngai (or sometimes
Mulungu) who was a merciful, but unapproachable figure.
People would make offerings to the
spirits of their ancestors to act as go betweens between themselves and Ngai.
Today, the majority of Kamba are Christian.
The
Kikuyu Tribe of Kenya
Making up 22% of the Kenyan
population, the Kikuyu number about 6 million people and are the largest ethnic
group in the country. A tribe who have embraced the modern 'western' way of
life, the Kikuyu have enjoyed great economic and political power in Kenya since
the nation's founding.
Three of Kenya's presidents have
been from the Kikuyu tribe. Originally farmers in the lands surrounding Mount
Kenya, the Kikuyu lost much of their traditional lands to the British during
the colonial era. This lead to great unrest within the country and contributed
to the Mau Mau rebellion that was a catalyst for the independence of Kenya.
Although they regain their ancestral
lands following the rebellion, the Kikuyu these days live all over Kenya. Prior
to converting to Christianity, the Kikuyu believed in a God called Ngai who
lived atop Mount Kenya. Similar to the Christian belief in an Adam & Eve,
the Kikuyu believed humanity had arisen from a single man (Kikuyu) and woman
(Mumbi) who had nine children that would go on to become the Kikuyu. The Kikuyu
traditionally practice polygamy, allowing men to take multiple wives. In an
interesting twist on this arrangement, wives were also allowed to take male
lovers. The children of such affairs would become the property of the husbands
and be raised as if they were his own.
The
Kisii Tribe Kenya
With lands along the fertile shores
of Lake Victoria, the Kisii derive a great deal of economic and financial power
from their tea and coffee plantations. A modern and fecund tribe, the Kisii are
one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the world and have spread across
all of Kenya. Kisii history is one rich with conflict, as the tribe would often
feud with the neighbouring Maasai, Luo, and Nandi tribes. To this day, the
Kisii are seen as a strong and aggressive people.
While 75% of Kisii people now
identify as Christian, many still hold to their original belief in a God named
Engoro. The supreme creator and the force behind thunder and lightning, Engoro
could only be spoken to through the spirits of ancestors. Medicine men were
both healers and protectors aganist witchcraft, and witchcraft is still feared
to this day even by modern, Christian Kisii. Unlike the majority of Kenyan
tribes, Kisii society is not divided up by age sets.
Several generations of Kisii will
live together and work closely together, rather than only socialising with
those in their own age set.
The
Luhya Tribe Kenya
The second largest ethnic group in
Kenya, the Luhya comprise roughly 5.3 million people from between 16 and 18 sub
groups. Agriculturalists who traditionally dwelt in the lands between Lake
Victoria and the border with Uganda, the Luhya are a modern tribe who live in
many cities across Kenya.
The Luhya believed in a God called
Were and also worshipped the spirits of ancestors, but many have now converted
to Christianity. The Luhya are distinct in being a tribe that does not practice
female circumcision, although males are circumcised between the ages of 8 and
15, usually at large annual ceremonies. These ceremonies create age sets
comprised of individuals who were circumcised in the same ceremony. Another
interesting practice of the Luhya came at times of death and mourning. All
mourners would come and stay with the family of the deceased for forty days to
sing songs, tell stories, and celebrate the memory of the departed.
Modern Luhya have replaced this
forty day vigil with a shorter one (generally a week), but this mourning period
remains an intriguing part of Luhya culture.
The
Luo Tribe Kenya
The third largest tribe in Kenya,
the Luo make up approximately 12% of the nation's population. Their traditional
territories extend beyond the Kenyan borders to include lands in Tanzania,
Uganda, and Sudan. A politically active people, the Luo tend to hold positions
in the opposition to the majority Kikuyu party that has produced three of
Kenya's presidents. With lands predominantly in western Kenya, the Luo were not
a tribe who had a great deal of involvement in the Mua Mua religion. Their
interactions with European colonists were limited, although modern Luo have
adapted quickly to the western lifestyle and most follow Christianity. The Luo
are unusual in Kenya in that circumcision is not a large part of their society,
with marriage and death being the more prominent rites of passage. The Luo also
have a rich musical tradition, with songs and instrumental music being a large
part of their lives. Barack Obama's father is Luo, a point of pride with the
heavily political people.
The
Meru Tribe Kenya
Not to be confused with the tribe of
the same name in Tanzania, the Meru do share one point of commonality with the
people who call Mount Meru their ancestral home, with the Kenyan Meru having
settled on the slopes of Mount Kenya.
Meru history is one rich with myth
and folklore, and their creation mythology bears a striking resemblance to that
of Judaism – including a prophet left in a reed basket, a king who ordered the
deaths of the first born, and an escape from slavery by a 'Red People'. The
Meru place a great deal of emphasis on male circumcision as a rite of passage,
and share the practice of brides being paid for in cattle with other major
Kenyan tribes. Marriage typically takes place as soon as circumcision is
healed. Religiously, the Meru traditionally followed a single god known as
either Arega Kuthera or Murungu, as well as a complex spirit world that
included the kind spirits of departed ancestors and evil spirits who were to be
feared. Interestingly for a people who revere the spirits of the dead, the Meru
consider the physical dead to be unclean. Those close to death are encouraged
to leave their homes and die elsewhere, as dying in one's own home would require
the house to be burned down to cleanse it.
The mugwe were the priests and
spiritual leaders of the Meru, although this role has fallen into disuse with
the advent of Christianity.
The
Mijikenda Tribe Kenya
A conglomeration of nine different
tribes (Mijikenda means 'nine cities'), the Mijikenda dwell on the coast of
Kenya and Tanzania. Comprised of the Kauma, Chonyi, Jibana, Giriama, Kamabe,
Ribe, Rabai, Duruma, and Digo people, the Mijikenda share a common language
with nine dialects. The tribe has traditionally strong ties with the
neighbouring Swahili. Sometimes known as nyika (bush people), the Mijikenda
consider parts of the nearby forests to be sacred. These 'kaya forests' are not
cleared for agriculture, although in recent years the necessity for greater
land for tourism or residential areas has meant the sacred areas have been
cleared against the wishes of the Mijikenda.
Each village is lead by the eldest
generation, who are responsible for such varied tasks as solving disputes,
providing rain, and managing the kaya forests. If elders were not able to
produce rain (as is often the case during droughts), they were removed from
power. Like many Kenyan tribes, circumcision is an important rite of passage
and means of creating age sets. Farmers by trade, the Mijikenda especially
prize the coconut palm. Traditionally, the Majikenda practised 'pawning', the
act of owning and selling other people. This pawning is no longer practised,
obviously.
The
Rendille Tribe
A semi-nomadic people traditionally
from the arid Kaisut Desert, the Rendille have been forced to adopt a more
settled existence due to years of drought. Today, Korr is a town made up
predominantly of settled Rendille people.
Unlike the majority of Kenyan tribes
who see cattle as their most important livestock, the Rendille rely on camels
to provide them with both milk and meat due to the arid lands that they call
home. A semi-nomadic people, the Rendille follow a strict land management model
that sees them relocate only two or three times a year.
Like other major Kenyan tribes,
practises such as circumcision, arranged marriage, and a warrior subculture.
Unlike other Kenyan tribes, however, the Rednille still hold on to their
original religious beliefs; revering a god known as Wakh or Ngai. Stone or bone
casting is used to predict the future.
The
Samburu Tribe
A small tribe made up of only around
150,00 individuals, the Samburu call the lands of the Rift Valley in northern
Kenya their home. Like the Maasai whom they bear a great resemblance to,
Samburu society revolves heavily around the herds of cattle and goats that they
keep. Wealth is measured by the size of an individual's herd. Like the Maasai,
the Samburu practice circumcision as a rite of passage and have a warrior class
within their tribes.
Polygamy is practised and men are
able to have as many wives as their wealth allows them to afford. Religiously,
the Samburu believe in a god known as Ngai or Nkai, who lives in the mountain
peaks surrounding their lands. Rather than relying on ancestor spirits to speak
to their god for them, the Samburu pray directly to their god.
Due to their historical conflicts
with the Somali people, the Samburu are suspicious of Islam, and have also
resisted Christianity's spread.
The
Somali Tribe
While the majority of the Somali
tribe dwells within neighbouring Somalia, roughly half a million people who
identify as Somali live in eastern Kenya. The tribe pre-dates the existence of
the nation of Somalia, with its people having lived in modern day Kenya,
Somalia, and Djibouti before the colonial era. Due to their extensive contact
with Arabic people along the coasts of Somalia, the Somali people have been a
predominantly Muslim people for almost a thousand years. This religious belief
is evident in Somali culture, with pork seen as a forbidden food and women
expected to cover themselves. Female circumcision, which is not uncommon in
many Kenyan tribes, is practised in a particularly brutal way by the Somali
people. Marriages between older men and younger women are also common.
The
Swahili Tribe
A coastal tribe of traders, the
Swahili have enjoyed extensive contact with other tribes and nations over their
history. Their language, Swahili, is spoken across a number of East African
countries and is one of the two official languages in Kenya. Their contact with
other nations has made it difficult to establish what is traditional in Swahili
culture, as they have adopted a great many customs and beliefs from those they
have encountered. The strongest influence on the Swahili people is their Muslim
religion, which is practised among Swahili people much as it is elsewhere in
the world.
The
Taita Tribe
A minor tribe of some 250,000 people
residing in south-eastern Kenya, the Taita speak a language similar to Swahili
and have largely abandoned their traditional ways in adopting the modern
lifestyle. Traditionally, the Taita were farmers whose success at producing
food lead to a rapid growth in population. These days, having successfully
assimilated into modern life, very little of the Taita traditions remain.
The
Turkana Tribe
Calling the dry lands around the
seasonal Lake Turkana home, the Turkana people number approximately 350,000
people who still lead rural lives much as they have for centuries. Their
isolation has allowed them to maintain their traditional beliefs, and they have
so far resisted the spread of Christianity that has converted so many other
Kenyan people.
A nomadic people who raise cattle,
goats, sheep, and camels, families are generally quite large as sons remain
with their father's family even after they have married and had their own
children. The Turkana do not practice circumcision, but instead practice a number
of less painful initiation rites into adulthood for their men. Girls become
women when they are married. The Turkana still worship Akuj, a god whom they
can pray to directly or implore for help through the spirits of their
ancestors.
They are not a particularly devout
people, usually only speaking to their god in times when rain is needed.
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