Population is the number of people living in an area. -
People in Eastern Africa are grouped according to their languages. A group of people who speak almost a similar language is called a language group.
There are four main language groups in Eastern Africa. They include the following.
The Bantus - the largest
The Nilotes
The Cushites
The Semites
A. The Bantus
The Bantus migrated from Congo forest. They were cultivators.
Language group | Communities |
Bantus | Chagga,Hutu, Baganda Abaluhya, Tutsi, Sukuma, Abakuria, Basoga, Gogo, Aembu, Bagishu, Hehe, Akamba, Banyore, Zaramo, Pare, Taita, nyamwzi, Makonde, Ngoni, Agikuyu, Batoro, Mijikenda |
Nilotes | Luo, Alur, Lang’o, Dinka, Nuer, Anuak, Shiluk, Japadhola, Lagbara, Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Sebei, Keiyo, Pokot, Marakwet, Ogiek |
Cushites | Borane, Sanye, Somali, Oromo, Renndile, Ogaden, Beja, Hawiya, Galla, Isaaq, Sandawa, Burungu |
Semites | Amhara, Tigre, Bagarra, Falasha, Bagakko, Kababish. Girghe, Arabs, Nubians and Adere |
The Bantu communities found in Eastern Africa are:
KENYA:- Abaluhya, Abagusii, Abakuria, Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu, Mbeere, Akamba, Taita, Pokomo, Mijikenda
UGANDA:- Baganda, Banyankole, Basoga, Bagisu, Batoro, Banyoro
TANZANIA:- Chagga, Sukuma, Gogo, Hehe, Ngoni, Yao, Ha, Makonde, Zaramo, Wapare, Wafipa, Nyamwezi
Migration
Migration is the movement of people from one place to settle in another place People migrate from one place to another with various reasons
Bantus
The Bantu moved into the Eastern Africa from western Africa.
They later moved and first settled in Cameroon and later Congo before moving to eastern Africa
Bantus are divided into two groups which include
Western Bantus
Eastern Bantus
Later some groups moved into Western Kenya.
Eastern Bantus followed Lake Kivu and Lake Edward routes.
They settled in Rwanda and Burundi and some moved into Northern and Central Tanzania. Some later moved into Kenya and settled in the highland of the coastal regions.
Reasons for the migration of Bantus to Eastern Africa
Search for fertile land
Population increase and pressure
Outbreak of diseases
Drought and famine
Internal Disputes
Attacks from the hostile neighbours.
B. The Nilotes
The Nilotes migrated from Southern Sudan. The Nilotes are divided into three
Highland Nilotes
Plain Nilotes
River-lake Nilotes
Nilotes found in Eastern Africa area Kenya
The Nilotic speaking groups into Eastern Africa along the River Nile from where they got their Name Nilotes.
The River Lake Nilotes
They moved into two groups, the first groups settled in South Sudan while the second groups moved southwards and settled in Uganda and some moved to western Kenya and settle near Lake Victoria.
The highland Nilotes
They migrated from southern Sudan and settled around Mt Elgon in Kenya and Uganda.
Later some moved and settled in highland west of rift valley in Kenya.
The Plain Nilotes
They moved from South Sudan into the Northern Uganda and around Lake Turkana in Kenya. Some moved further into southern part of Kenya and entered northern Tanzania from Kenya.
Highland Nilotes:- Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Keiyo, Pokot, Bok, Bongomek, Sabaot, Terik, Ogiek, Marakwet
River lake Nilotes:- Luo
Plain Nilotes:- Samburu, Maasai, Iteso, Njemps, Turkana
b) Uganda
Highland Nilotes:- Sebei
River lake Nilotes:- Alur, Lugbara, Lango, Jopadhola, Acholi
Plain Nilotes:- Karamajong, Jie, Iteso
c) Tanzania
Highland Nilotes:- Dadoga
Plain Nilotes:- Maasai
d) South Sudan
River lake Nilotes:- Dinka, Nuer, Anuak, Ajur, Chilluk
Reasons for the migration of Nilotes
Search for water and pasture (main)
Attacks by diseases both for their livestock and people
Internal disputes
Outbreak of drought and famine
Attacks from the hostile neighbours
C. Cushites
The cushites language group moved into eastern Africa from Arabia.
Some of the groups moved and settled towards Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
The earlier Cushitic groups such as the Iraq settled in Tanzania.
The Semites are the mixed origin (African, Arabic and Jewish).
They intermarried with the African communities to form new language group.
The groups spread out and settled in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan.
The Cushites entered Eastern Africa from the Horn of Africa. They are nomadic pastoralists.
They are divided into two;
The Eastern Cushites
The Southern Cushites
Eastern Cushites include:-
Somali, Gabbra, Borana, Burji, Oromo, Orma, Rendile, Afar
Southern Cushites are:-
Dahalo, Sanye, Hawa, Mbugu, Aramanik, Iraqw, Burungu
Reasons for the migration of Cushites
Search for water and pasture
Attacks from hostile neighbours
Outbreak of diseases
D. Semites
Semites in Eastern Africa originated from South Arabia, others from Asian countries.
Semites mainly moved into Eastern Africa to trade.
Examples of Semites are:
Amharas
Tigerians
Arabs
Nubian
Farasha
The Movement and settlement of language groups in eastern Africa
The different language groups in Eastern Africa migrated from their places of different language groups.
Effect of migration and settlement of selected language groups of eastern Africa
It led to intermarriage between different communities
Adoption of different cultures
Inter community trade
Outbreak of wars, as some communities tried to displace other communities for settlement
Promotion of trade
Introduction of new farming methods
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