Interesting Facts about Kenya’s 42 Tribes

Kenya is such a beautiful country that is made up of 42 tribes, each contributing to the country’s diverse and rich culture and heritage. Majority of these tribes are made up of several sub-tribes.

Surprisingly about 70 percent of the Kenyan population is made up of five largest tribes that include the Kikuyu Community with 22 percent of the entire population, followed by Luhya making about 14 percent of the total population, Luo makes up about 13 percent, Kalenjin about 12 percent, Kamba about 11 percent and Kisii makes up about 6 percent of the Kenyan population.

Other tribes include the Dahalo, Digo, Duruma, Edo, El Molo, Embu Tribe, Garreh-Ajuran, Giryama, Kuria,  Masai, Meru, Mijikenda Ogiek, Rendille, Samburu, Somali, Swahili, Taita, Teso, Tharaka, Turkana and the Yaaku tribes.

Each of these tribes has got their own unique cultures and traditions that tend to distinguish them from other communities. Some of these cultures have been embraced by people from as far as outside Africa.

The Maasai tribe is one of the most renowned communities in Kenya and across the world. Although the tribe is made up of just a small population, it is one of the biggest attractions of visitors both locally and internationally. This is one community that is known to have embraced their culture, traditions and history for a long period of time. Even though it is not easy to ignore the influence of the outside world and modern culture, they have adapted uniquely, integrating modern ways of life with their culture. What attracts many is their mode of dressing, red stripped shukas as well as other traditional regalia.

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The Maasai are predominantly warriors whose lives revolve around cattle. Cattle play an important role in Maasai life. It is their primary source of food. A man’s wealth is measured in terms of cattle he owns and children he has. They are semi-nomadic which is a result of their raising cattle and the need to find new grazing land. Maasai families live in an enclosure called a Enkang which typically contains ten to twenty small huts. The enclosure is protected by a fence or bushes with sharp thorns. Maasai huts are very small, with usually only one or two rooms and not high enough for these tall people to stand.

Another tribe with some interesting culture is the Luhya community found on the western part of Kenya. The Luhya tribe consist of over 18 sub-tribes, each speaking a different dialect of the Luhya language. The Bukusu and Maragoli are the two largest Luhya sub-tribes. Others include the Banyala, Banyore, Batsotso, Gisu, Idakho, Isukha, Kabras, Khayo, Kisa, Marachi, Marama, Masaaba, Samia, Tachoni, Tiriki and Wanga. Traditional male circumcision is an important ritual in most Luhya sub-tribes that marks initiation from boyhood to manhood. Bull fighting is another culture for the Luhya that the community has embraced. People in this tribe are associated to food. It is said that they tend to eat a lot of food, and not just food but Ugali especially the Bukusu.

The Luo tribe are located along the Nyanza region. They are associated with fishing as a source of their livelihood. They usually say that without fish, no Luo is complete. That is not all though, bragging and flossing is also among the characters linked to people from this community. They like talking big. They are also known for their unique initiation rite where circumcision for boys is marked by removal of six lower teeth. The other unique feature is that the community is known for the famous ‘professional mourners’ where a group of locals are often hired to go and mourn for someone they have never even met in their life.

Kikuyu, which is the largest tribe in Kenya has got its unique cultures and traditions. Traditionally, a Kikuyu husband is permitted to marry more than one wife so long as he can afford to care for them. Bride price is also an important aspect of their culture. Although some of their culture has eroded, the Kikuyu language is still predominantly spoken, especially in the urban areas where a majority of people speak English and Swahili. They are associated with money. They say that if a Kikuyu is dying, then he hears the sound of a shilling, he will postpone the dying. That is funny.

The Kamba tribe is renowned for their exceptional woodcarving and basketry skills. Their unique sculptures and weaved sisal baskets are sold in curio shops, gift shops and art galleries in Kenya’s major cities and abroad. The men do the carving while Kamba women weave and decorate the fine work in baskets and pottery. Kamba women are often said to be among the most beautiful ladies due to their light skin.

Kisii tribe used to be one of the few Kenyan tribes that was known to practice mandatory female circumcision. Although this ritual has since been outlawed, it still persists but is not as frequent as it used to be. Kisii boys on the other hand are initiated into adulthood and into the Gusii as a group by circumcision. Kisii families tend to be very large and socially cohesive, with families living close to each other and sharing daily activities such as cooking and farming. By custom, men are allowed to marry more than one wife and are considered to be the authority in their families, almost a “King” to their women. They are known for their soapstone carvings, basketry and pottery. Large scale banana farming “Matoke” is also practiced by the Kisii community. They are known as people who are short-tempered.

The Kalenjin tribe is made up of eight sub-tribes namely the Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Keiyo, Marakwet, Pokot, Sabaot, and the Terik. The Kalenjin are renowned on a national and international level for their athletic prowess and they are sometimes referred to as Kenya’s running tribe. Cattle keeping is also one of the activities that this communities engage in. They highly associated with milk taking and their famous “mirsik” (Traditionally fermented milk). Kalenjin are known to live as a community in rounded- thatched huts. Walls were constructed of bent saplings anchored to larger posts and covered with a mixture of mud and cow dung. Circumcision among boys is normally carried out when they are in their early teenage years, unlike other Kenyan communities that circumcise below they hit the age of ten.

The Mijikenda, which literally means nine homesteads  is made up of nine sub-tribes that include the Giriama and the Digo who are the most dominant along the Kenya coast. The other seven sub-tribes are Chonyi, Duruma, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Rabai and Ribe. Their culture revolves around clans and age-sets. A Mijikenda clan consists of several family groups which have a common patriarchal ancestor. Each Mijikenda clan had their own sacred place known as kaya, a shrine for prayer, sacrifices and other religious rituals. The Mijikenda, and more particularly the Digo, are considered some of the best cooks among the Kenya tribes. One Kenya food, a staple of the Mijikenda tribe is wali, that is rice prepared with coconut milk, giving it a sweet taste. Fish and other seafood also form part of Mijikenda cuisine.

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