Kenya Ethnic Groups

KENYA ETHNIC GROUPS

The indigenous tribes of Kenya fall into three ethnic groups, namely: the Bantus, the Cushites and the Nilotes.

The Bantus 
The Bantu ethnic group is the largest ethnic community in Kenya. They make up about 70 percent of the country’s population, but they occupy less than 30 percent of the Kenyan land base. The Bantu people in Kenya live mainly in the coastal, central, western and eastern regions of the country. The Kikuyu tribe forms Kenya’s largest single ethnic group. Their closest kin are the Embu and Meru tribes.

These are followed directly by the Luhya, who live in Western Kenya, the Kamba people of Eastern Kenya, the Kisii tribe from the Rift Valley region, and the Swahili, Taita and Mijikenda people from Kenya’s coast. Unlike the Nilotes, rural Bantus are agriculturalists who grow much of Kenya’s cash crops, including the popular Kenya coffee, tea and other agricultural products such as maize, beans, rice and sugar.

The Cushites
Cushites, or Cushitic people, live in the arid and semi-arid eastern and northeastern parts of Kenya. They reside along a very large area of land that runs from the east of Lake Turkana, stretches to the north of Kenya, and through to the Indian Ocean. Cushites include the Somali, Rendile, Borana and Oromo tribes. Due to the dryness of their habitat throughout most of the year, Cushites are mainly nomadic pastoralists who keep large herds of cattle, camels, goats and sheep. Cushitic people maintain very close ties with their kinsmen – the Cushites of the neighboring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.

The Nilotes
Kenyan Nilotes reside in the broad Rift Valley region of Kenya, around Lake Victoria. They are comprised of three distinct groups: the River Lake Nilotes; the Luo, who live along Lake Victoria and practice fishing; and the plain Nilotes, who include the Maasai, Samburu, and Turkana people. The plain Nilotes are pastoral tribes who have defied modern trends to retain most of their traditional ways of life.

They mainly reside in the Rift Valley where they practice nomadic pastoralism. The plain Nilotes roam from one part of their territory to another in resonance with the rainfall and in search of water and fresh food for their large herds. The Highland Nilotes are the Kalenjin people who live in Kenya’s Western Highlands. Due to their geographical positioning and good climatic condition, the Kalenjins are able to practice both pastoralism and agriculture. Kenya’s other, smaller tribes are independent or sub-tribes of the larger tribes.

Just like the large tribes, each of Kenya’s small tribes is culturally unique. These tribes are spread out across the country, residing in different parts of Kenya.

The Modern Kenya Tribes
The effects of modern civilization, education and the influence of outside cultures has led to the gradual erosion and banning of some of the most deep-rooted customs and cultures of Kenya’s various tribes. Modern law has since forbidden customs such as female circumcision, which was popular among the Maasai and Kisii tribes. Most Kenyans, especially those living in the modern urban cities, have, for the most part, shed their tribal customs to adopt an almost western lifestyle.

Who lives in Kenya’s Cities?
Just about anyone from each of the Kenya tribes. As rural Kenyans migrate to urban centers in pursuit of employment, leisure and other economic development activities, most of Kenya’s large cities have become densely populated with people from different ethnic tribes. They speak the Kenyan languages of English and Swahili while still retaining some of their native culture and ethnic languages. It is the diversity of Kenya’s tribes and their individual cultures that have made Kenya such an adorable and unique country.

THE SAVORY TASTE OF ETHNIC KENYAN FOOD

One delightful element about Kenya food is its diverse flavor. Kenyan cooking draws upon a variety of ethnic traditions merged with the seasonings and tastes of outside countries. Because of Kenya’s long-standing relationship with foreign settlers and its colonization by the British, the taste, cooking methods and presentation of Kenyan foods have been greatly influenced by the Indians, Arabs, Europeans, and Pakistanis as well as some western countries.

Kenyan food is mainly traditional and nearly all of Kenya’s tribes boast a specific meal as their very own staple food.Typical Kenyan cuisine is readily available in almost every Kenyan eatery; you can find it served in restaurants, hotels, clubs and entertainment venues with an African flair. Alternatively, you can buy a Kenyan recipe book and try cooking authentic Kenyan meals at home.

Ingredients in Kenyan Cuisine
The most popular foods in Kenya are fresh foods from the country’s vast resources. Farmland, lakes and the Indian Ocean provide readily available vegetables, fruits and meats. Often, the ingredients used to prepare a Kenyan dish are fresh, very cheap and easily used to make a quick meal. Common vegetables include kale, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, avocados and other leafy greens, while beef and goat meat are the common meats served in a Kenyan meal. Fish, chicken, and mutton are available but are more expensive.

Tropical fruits such as mangoes, oranges, pineapples, bananas, papaws, and pears are cheap, plentiful and popular on Kenyan tables, their availability dictated by the season. Other ingredients used in typical Kenyan dishes and recipes include rice, corn meal, and wheat and millet flour. Kenyans are avid tea drinkers, thus hot beverages such as Kenyan tea and coffee are often served with meals. Cold beverages like soda, juice, and domestic and international beers are also available in restaurants, hotels, pubs and entertainment spots. Tusker, a Kenyan beer, is the relaxing beer of choice for most Kenyans.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER FOODS

Adventurous meat eaters can also indulge in safe wildlife game meat, such as crocodile and ostrich, served in specialized restaurants. Game meat is rarely eaten in Kenyan homes. While most ingredients are used for ethnic food preparations, Western foods such as french fries, burgers, pizza, and pasta are readily available in some restaurants and fast-food places.

Common Ethnic Foods in Kenya

WHERE CAN YOU ENJOY KENYAN ETHNIC FOOD?

Everywhere in Kenya! In restaurants, hotels and lodges, elaborate buffets and à la carte menus of Kenyan food are part of the meal offering. If you are new to Kenyan food and want to experience a truly ethnic meal, then you should visit one of the eating establishments frequented by local Kenyans. Nyama choma and ugali top the list of popular Kenyan cuisine and are a “must eat”.

Where Can You Enjoy Other Foods in Kenya?
If you’re not in for Kenyan taste, international foods are available in fast-food restaurants, cafés, hotels and world-class specialty restaurants across the major cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu. You will always find a meal that you recognize and enjoy in the Italian, American, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, European, French, Mexican, Korean, Lebanese and other western restaurants. There are enough choices of food to delight vegetarians, too. The world-famous and one-of-a kind game meat restaurant in Africa – the Carnivore – is popular for its tasty selection of wildlife game meat. At the Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya, you can savor bountiful meals of antelope, crocodile, gazelle and other wild meat.

Top Restaurants in Nairobi
If you are in Nairobi and wondering where to find a good restaurant, take a look at this Restaurant Guide of Nairobi’s best eating establishments. Nairobi offers a number of Kenyan, Chinese, Continental, Ethiopian, French, Italian, Thai, Japanese, and Indian restaurants, serving everything from seafood and grilled game-meat to organic food. International celebrities, including Kenya’s most famous and powerful people have eaten at these establishments and you, too, can dine like one of them in Nairobi.

KENYAN CULTURE

Kenya culture is a fascinating way of life that blends the traditions of thousands of years of African social evolution with the modern influences of the 20th century. The multifaceted culture of Kenya is expressed in different forms, ranging from its people and language, food, music and dance, art, artifacts, theatre and literature to its ethnic values and ethical norms. Combined with other traditions, these forms of expression and lifestyle form an identity that is uniquely Kenyan.

People & Language
The Kenyan population is comprised of more than 40 ethnic groups, each with its own unique dialect. As Kenya’s national languages, Swahili and English bridge the communication gap and unite Kenyans as a single nation.

Kenya Food & Diet
The Kenyan diet is comprised of foods rich in ethnic diversity. Popular staple foods include ugali, rice, bread, chapatti (a type of Indian bread), beef, chicken, goat, tilapia and an assortment of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Nyama choma is regarded as Kenya’s national dish. Nyama choma is a form of charcoal-grilled beef or goat meat, and is very popular in authentic Kenyan restaurants and pubs. In times of celebration and on special occasions such as Christmas and wedding ceremonies, it is customary for Kenyans to kill and roast a goat or cow.

The Kenyan diet also includes tea. In fact, in Kenya, anytime is tea time. When it comes to drinks, Kenya tea in the form of Chai (tea with milk and sugar) is the beverage of choice. It is served for breakfast, at mealtimes and also during Kenya’s regular teatime. Clearly, Kenya culture embraces many different cultural influences: teatime is a custom borrowed from the British colonial past and the Chai style of cooking tea originated in India. Another popular social drink, and one that also makes a good accompaniment for nyama choma, is Kenya’s signature-brand beer – Tusker.

Kenya Art & Artifacts 
Another fascinating aspect of Kenyan culture is the art and artifacts that Kenya’s different ethnic groups craft manually, using readily available local materials. Beautifully carved wood sculptures showing exquisite detail and craftsmanship are produced in large quantities and sold to tourists both locally and abroad

Other popular Kenya artifacts include colorful hand-woven sisal baskets, Maasai beaded jewelry, gold and silver jewelry, musical instruments, soapstone sculptures, tribal masks, figurines, paintings, prints, batik cloth, kangas and the beautiful traditional Kikoys (African sarongs).

Music & Dance
Traditional music and dance is an integral part of Kenyans’ social and religious lives, and forms an important part of Kenya culture. In Kenya, harmonious beats and rhythm are central parts of dance, which is traditionally backed by drums and guitar instruments. One of the most popular Kenyan styles of music is benga, a traditional contemporary dance from the 1960s. Taarab music, another typical Kenyan entertainment, is inspired by Arab and Indian immigrants and is popular along the coast of Kenya.

Theatre & Literature
Kenya has a strong oral tradition. This is conveyed through stories which have been passed on from generation to generation, often in the form of songs. The Kenya National Theatre is a performing art center for cultural music, dance, and plays written by Kenyan authors. Original Kenyan literature is contemporarily inspired by the social frictions of the colonial times. Popular contemporary novelists include Ngugi wa Thiong’o, among others.

Cultural Values & Etiquette 
Kenyans are a friendly and hospitable people, regardless of ethnic affiliation. Greetings are an important part of social and business interaction. Kenyans also place great importance on family. Kenyan families are often large and usually include the extended family. Kenyans honor collective responsibilities and traditional values, which include treating the elderly with respect and reverence.

Kenya Sports
Kenya’ most popular sport is soccer; however, it’s Kenya’s runners who have gained worldwide renown. Athletes from around the world look up to Kenya’s legends- Kipchoge Keino, Henry Rono, Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba, among others.

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