Introduction to People

Kenya is a cultural microcosm of the larger continent of Africa. Generations of migrations have resulted in a diverse mosaic of cultures and traditions. This melting-pot of peoples is firmly rooted in the framework of tribal tradition. There are more than 40 tribal groupings in this country where national identity is second to tribal identity. Kenya's population is almost exclusively of African descent, although there are small but influential minorities of Asians, Indians and Europeans. The population of Kenya is approximately 25 million and boasts a growth rate of 3.8%, one of the highest in the world. The tremendous growth rate is taxing Kenya's ability to expand economically and provide needed educational and social services. The expanding population also presents environmental challenges and land use pressure as humans compete with wildlife for shrinking resources.

Migrations into today's Kenya took place over many centuries, long before the arrival of the Europeans, and can be identified by three distinct waves: the agriculutrally oriented Bantus, the pastoral Cushitic speakers, and the pastoral-agricultural Nilotes. The Cushites began arriving from Ethiopia and Somalia around 2,000 BC and continue to migrate south in sporadic waves. The Nilotic tribes followed 1,000 years later from Egypt and the Sudan. The Bantu began their migration from West Africa around 500 BC. The original hunter-gatherers who lived in Kenya were either killed, forced out, or absorbed by intermarriage as the first waves of migration progressed. Among the tribes who share common roots, every type of lifestyle exists including hunter-gatherers, nomadic herders, settled farmers, and fishermen.

The tribes of Kenya represent a true cross-section of African life. Some ethnic groups have assimilated the conveniences of the west while other remote tribes remain untouched by the 20th century. Tribal culture is continually changing as refugees from neighboring countries and intermarriage blur both territorial boundaries and physiological features. Tribal conflicts over land and scarce resources add to the pressure for survival.

Kenyans speak a variety of languages although English is the dominant tongue in towns and throughout the tourist industry. Language remains the major feature that distinguishes tribal affiliation. For two thirds of all Kenyans, the common language is of Bantu origin. Only three percent of the population are Cushite-speaking Kenyans although they occupy the largest geographic area. The reminder of the population speak Nilotic languages. These three language structures successfully bind together a diverse country of more than 40 different ethnic groups.

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