Population

429,000 (1994 I. Larsen BTL). Population includes 150,000 in Embu, 61,725 in Mbeere (1980 Heine and Möhlig).

Region

Embu District, Eastern Province.

Alternate names  

Kiembu

Dialects

Mbeere (Mbere, Kimbeere), Embu. Mbeere is reported to have adequate intelligibility of Embu. The population estimate may include Chuka and Mwimbi-Muthambi. Lexical similarity 85% with Mbeere, 73% with Gikuyu and Chuka, 66% with Kamba, 63% to 65% with Meru.

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.20)

Language use

Some speakers have proficiency in Gikuyu because of previous teaching in the schools, but it is limited in rural areas. Up to 70% have low proficiency in Swahili. Comprehension of Meru is limited.

Language development

Literacy rate in first language: below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%.

Comments

'Embo' is an incorrect spelling. There are government literacy materials in Embu. Embu: Christian, traditional religion; Mbeere: traditional religion, Christian.