Kenya Population And Culture
POPULATION AND CULTURE: POPULATION:
The long history of Kenya is currently reflected in its cultural variety. Several tribes, habitats, languages, religions and many others are included in the cultural diversity.
The population of Kenya collects tribes, cultures, religions and also languages. Looking at what is currently known, Kenya’s human map was started 6,000 years back, when the indigenous dwellers of this land were first encroached upon by the northern Nilotic and Cushite populations. Then followed the Bantu people, after which the Arabs, Asians, Europeans and so many others came. The skin colours of Kenyans include all the range of clears and darks.
The approximately 30 million Kenyans are spread unevenly all over the country, knowing that the north and northeast regions are arid and less favourable for human dwelling. In these places, population density rarely comes to 2 settlers per sq. km, while in the rich and fertile western region, population density goes up to 120 settlers per sq. km. In the Rift valley, density changes according to regions, with a mean approximately13 settlers per sq. km.
The majority of the Kenyans settle in the Highlands where the climate is neither very hot not very cold. Urban population is approximately 25% of the total and is settled in a few big cities, mostly in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. The rural population is kept within the fertile lands and depends on agriculture. Only 4 million people are employed, this involves small farmers and nomad shepherds. Women account for 30% of the total population that is employed.
The majority of Kenya’s population is black. The various tribes are classified basing on their linguistic origin.
Approximately 65% of the entire population is under the Bantu tribes, settling in the Central Highlands, the southeast and coastal areas. The Nilotic who constitute 30% inhabit the southwest and the central Rift Valley area, while the Cushites who constitute 3% dwell in the northern regions. The population spectrum also includes some minorities, for example Hindus, Arabs and Europeans. This variety is the cause for the majority of Kenyans speaking different languages. The indigenous languages continue to exist, but Swahili is the common language for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The official language is English and Kenyans learn it at school.
Having a variety is both a source of wealth and also of misunderstandings. Despite the government’s endeavours to instil in Kenyans the option of one united people having a common fate, the fact is that in Kenya, just like in many other African states, the feeling of nation applies to the own tribe. A big number of Kenyans mostly those who do not have the opportunity to get education, do not jet understand the idea of state. The Maasai land was divided by the contrary limit between Kenya and Tanzania, less over one hundred years back. Time compassionate reluctance tears apart the fates of the Maasai at their side of the limit, however, the collective memory continues to keep the idea of one people. Therefore, the Maasai find it hard to assume the reason why the route to their cousin’s region is cut by an imaginary line that is hard to traverse. Even today, entering a tribe into another tribe’s province is got with no trust at the very least, and often times with cruelty.
The following is an abstract of the general data about Kenya’s population. Apart from any specification, figures correspond to 1999.
The population tantamounts to 28,808,658 people.
Population structure by ages:
0-14 years constitute 43% (6,244,321 male, 6,104, 181 female).
15-64 years constitute 54% (7,845,083 male, 7,826,442 female).
More than 64 years constitute 3% (343,449 male, 445,182 female).
The rate at which population grows is 1.59%.
Birth rate is 30.8% births per 1000 settlers.
Mortality rate is 14.58 deaths per 1000 settlers.
Movement rate is -0.34 foreigners per 1000 settlers.
Population structure by gender:
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Not more than 15v years: 1.02 male/female
Between 15 and 16 years: 1 male female
More than 64 years: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1male/female
Child mortality rate: 59-07 deaths per 1000 living births
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 47:02 years
Males: 46-56 years
Females: 47-49 years.
Birth rate: 3.88 births per woman
Ethnic groups:
Kikuyu : 22%
Luhya : 14%
Luo : 13%
Kalenjin : 12%
Kamba : 11%
Kisii : 6%
Meru : 6%
Other Africans : 15%
Non Africans (Asians, Europeans and Arabs): 1%
Religions:
Protestants : 38%
Catholics : 28%
Indigenous religions : 26%
Muslims : 7%
Others : 1%
The languages used include: English (official), Swahili (national) and many local languages.
Literacy: (able to read and write, over 14 years, 1995 data).
Total population : 78.1%
Males : 86.3%
Females : 70%
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