Ukambani
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (3,893,157 (2009 Census) ) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kenya | |
| Languages | |
| Kikamba | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, African Traditional Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, Mbeere, other Bantu peoples |
The Kamba or Akamba people are a Bantu ethnic group - or tribe - who live in the semi-arid formerly Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya. This land is called Ukambani which constitutes of Makueni County, Kitui County and Machakos County.
Sources vary on whether they are the third, fourth or fifth largest ethnic group in Kenya. They make up to 11 percent of Kenya's population. They speak the Bantu Kikamba language as a mother tongue. The Kamba are predominantly based in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni Counties of Kenya. The total population of the Kamba stands at approximately 4.1 million. The Kamba are also called Akamba or Wakamba.
The Kamba are of Bantu origin. They are closely related in language and culture to the Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Meru, and are concentrated in the lowlands of Southeast Kenya from he vicinity of Mount Kenya to the Coast. The exact place that the Kamba's ancestors migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion from Central Africa is uncertain.
The first group settled in present-day Mbooni Hills in the Machakos District of Kenya in the second half of the 17th century before spreading to the greater Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Districts.
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Wikipedia