Sub-Groups of the Mijikenda
The following is part of Ethnologue Database(http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/).
Here we only excerpted a few items concerning the Mijikenda in order to facilitate a quick view of relevant topics. We have done this to alleviate
connectivity difficulties we sometimes experienced in trying to connect to the original database.
- Country
- Kenya
- Language code
- COH
- Continent
- Africa
- Alternate language names
- CHICHONYI
- Genetic affiliation
- Niger-Congo,
Atlantic-Congo,
Volta-Congo,
Benue-Congo,
Bantoid,
Southern,
Broad Bantu,
Narrow Bantu,
Central,
E,
Nyika (E.40),
Mijikenda
- Geographical region
- Kilifi District, Coast Province
- Population
- 42,000 (1980 Heine and Möhlig)
- Status
- Needs survey
- Remarks
- Some Giryama dialects may understand Chonyi
- Total speakers
- 42,000
- Religion
- Christian, Muslim
- Country
- Kenya
- Language code
- DIG
- Continent
- Africa
- Alternate language names
- KIDIGO, CHIDIGO
- Geographical region
- Kwale District, Coast Province, south of Mombasa
- Population
- 176,000 in Kenya (1987), .8% of the population; 88,000
in Tanzania (1987); 264,000 total
- Bilingual in
- Swahili
- Printings of whole books of Bible
- 1982
- Status
- Work in progress
- Remarks
- Partially intelligible with Giryama but the most remote
from Giryama of the Mijikenda Subgroup. 74% lexical
similarity with Duruma, 72% with Chonyi and Swahili, 71%
with Swahili dialects Mrima and Mvita, 67% with Amu, 62%
with Bajun, 58% with Lower Pokomo. A fair degree of Swahili
influence. Literacy estimate in Swahili: 45%. Vigorous
language use
- Geological type
- Coastal
- Subsistence type
- Agriculturalists, fishermen, traders, industry workers
- Total speakers
- 264,000
- Religion
- Muslim, traditional religion, Christian
- Also in
- Tanzania
- Country
- Kenya
- Language code
- DUG
- Continent
- Africa
- Dialect names
- RABAI
- Geographical region
- West Kwale District, Coast Province, south of Mombasa
to the Tanzanian border
- Population
- 189,000 including 49,000 Rabai (1986 SIL)
- Printings of whole books of Bible
- 1848-1989
- Status
- Work in progress
- Remarks
- Of the nine Mijikenda dialects, Duruma is the second most
remote from Giryama linguistically. Rabai may be
intelligible with Duruma. 74% lexical similarity with Digo,
66% with Swahili. Literacy estimate in Swahili: 13%.
Comprehension of Swahili and Digo is low. Vigorous language
use. Language attitudes toward Giryama indicate the need
for separate Duruma literature
- Total speakers
- 189,000
- Religion
- 47% traditional religion, 33% Christian, 20% Muslim
- Country
- Kenya
- Language code
- NYF
- Continent
- Africa
- Alternate language names
- GIRIAMA, AGIRYAMA, KIGIRIAMA, NIKA, NYIKA, KINYIKA
- Dialect names
- KAUMA, RIBE (RIHE), JIBANA (DZIHANA), KAMBE, GIRYAMA,
CHWAKA
- Geographical region
- North of Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale districts, Coast
Province
- Population
- 450,000 (1987 SIL), including 350,000 Giryama, 13,500
Kauma, 44,000 Jibana, 7,000 Kambe, 3,000 Ribe; 2.3% of the
population. 732,830 total Mijikenda (1980 SIL)
- Bilingual in
- Swahili, English
- Bible printings
- 1901
- New Testament printings
- 1901-1951
- Printings of whole books of Bible
- 1878-1951
- Status
- Work in progress
- Remarks
- Different from Nyiha (Nyika) of Tanzania and Zambia.
Strong traditional social system. Nine ethnic groups, all
called 'Mijikenda'. Digo and Duruma are the most distinct
from Giryama. Dialect speakers may understand Chonyi. 72%
lexical similarity with Digo, 63% with Mrima, 62% with
Mvita, 61% with Amu, 59% with Lower Pokomo and Bajun. Most
speak Swahili fairly well. Many school children are
learning English
- Geological type
- Coastal
- Subsistence type
- Subsistence agriculturalists, cash crops
- Total speakers
- 450,000
- Religion
- Traditional religion 82%, Christian 14%, Muslim 4%
(Muslim)