Facts About The Kikuyu Tribe
| Population |
5,347,000 (1994 I. Larsen BTL). |
| Region |
West central Kenya, in Kiambu, Murang'a, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga districts, Central Province. |
| Alternate names |
Kikuyu, Gekoyo, Gigikuyu |
| Dialects |
Southern Gikuyu (Kiambu, Southern Murang'a), Ndia (Southern Kirinyaga), Gichugu (Northern Kirinyaga), Mathira (Karatina), Northern Gikuyu (Northern Murang'a, Nyeri). Lexical similarity 73% with Embu, 70% with Chuka, 67% with Kamba, 63% with Meru. |
| Classification |
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, , Kikuyu-Kamba |
| Language use |
Speakers also use Swahili or English. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 60%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. 95% of the children are in school. Grammar. Bible: 1951-1965. |
| Comments |
Mountain slope, hills, plains. Agriculturalists: sorghum, millet, beans, sweet potatoes, maize, potatoes, cassava, bananas, sugarcane, yams, fruit, tobacco, coffee, castor oil, tea, pyrethrum, peas; animal husbandry: goats, sheep, cattle. Christian, traditional religion. |
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