← History and Citizenship / 1 Themes in Kenyan History and Citizenship

1.1 Linguistic groups in Kenya

History and Citizenship · Grade 10 · 10 lessons in the design

What this covers

  • The linguistic groups in Kenya: Bantu, Nilotes and Cushites
  • Causes of migration, settlement and expansion
  • Migration routes and areas of settlement
  • Effects of the migrations
  • Diversity and social cohesion

What you will be able to do

  • explore the linguistic groups in Kenya
  • discuss the causes and effects of migration, settlement and expansion of the linguistic groups
  • trace the migration routes and settlement areas of the linguistic groups in Kenya
  • apply the knowledge of diverse communities of Kenya to promote social cohesion
  • appreciate the diversity of communities in Kenya

Key questions

“How can you promote harmonious living among the diverse communities of Kenya?”

“Why did whole communities pick up and move?”

Lessons

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  1. The linguistic groups and why they moved
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Who Kenya's three language families are, where they came from, and what set them in motion.
  2. Routes, settlement and the effects of migration
    40 min · 2 practice tasks · quiz
    Where each group entered and settled, what followed from their meeting, and what it means for Kenya today.
  3. Western Bantu: Luhya, Kisii and Kuria
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    How the western farming communities entered from Uganda and Mount Elgon, split, and settled Kakamega, Kisii and the Kuria borderlands.
  4. Highland Bantu around Mount Kenya and Ukambani
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere, Meru and Kamba: related cultivators on volcanic soils, and the Kamba as the drier-land traders towards the coast.
  5. Coastal Bantu: Mijikenda, Taita, Pokomo and Swahili
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    The Shungwaya tradition, the nine kayas, the Taita Hills, the Tana Pokomo, and Swahili towns as a meeting place of Bantu and the Indian Ocean.
  6. River-Lake Nilotes: the Luo in Nyanza
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    From Bahr el Ghazal through Pubungu to Lake Victoria: three Luo waves, a mixed lake economy, and constant neighbours.
  7. Plain Nilotes: Maasai, Turkana, Samburu and Teso
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Maa speakers and the Ateker cluster on Kenya's grasslands and dry plains: cattle, camels, age-sets, and mixing at the edges.
  8. Highland Nilotes: the Kalenjin peoples
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Nandi, Kipsigis, Tugen, Keiyo, Marakwet, Pokot, Sabaot and Terik on the western highlands and Rift escarpment - herding plus the hoe.
  9. Cushites in Kenya: the dry north and an earlier southern layer
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Somali, Borana, Rendille, Gabbra, Orma and related Eastern Cushites, plus Southern Cushites who arrived earlier and were largely absorbed.
  10. Hunter-gatherers, mixing and promoting cohesion
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Earlier inhabitants still present, the evidence of mixing, and practical ways a Grade 10 class promotes harmonious living from this history.