Language Groups In Eastern Africa - Social Studies CBC Grade 6 Notes

• Language Groups In Eastern Africa
  
  • Classification Of Communities In Eastern Africa According To Language Groups
  • Reasons For The Migration Of Selected Language Groups Into Eastern Africa

Language Groups In Eastern Africa

• Language group refers to people or communities who speak the same language or related languages.
• People of eastern Africa belong to different language group
  
  1. The Bantu
  2. The Nilotes
  3.  The Cushites
  4. The Semites

Classification Of Communities In Eastern Africa According To Language Groups

Bantus

• Are the largest language group in eastern Africa
• Originally homeland was DRC, Cameroon, Zaire
• Are mainly found in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi
• Tanzania has the largest number of Bantu.
  

  Kenya	Abaluhya,abagusii,abakuria,agikuyu,ameru,aembu,akamba,ambeere,taita,mijikenda, pokomo
  Tanzania	Chagga,sukuma,gogo,hehe,ngoni,yao,nyamwezi,vinza,ha,zaramo,pare,fipa
  Uganda	Baganda,banyore,basoga,bagishu, batoro,banyoro
  Rwanda	Hutu,tutsi
  Burundi	Hutu

Cushites

• They are pastoralists
• Migrated into eastern Africa from Saudi Arabia
• Main reason for migration was to search for water and pasture for their animals
• They are divided into;
  
  1. Eastern cushites
  2. Southern cushites
• Eastern Cushites
  

  Kenya	Somali, orma, boran, burji, gabbra, rendille, galla, boni
  Ethiopia	Rendille, afar, sindamo, galla, danakil, oromo, ogaden
  Somalia	Boran, somali, rendille, oromo, ogaden, hawiyah, gurreh, danakil.

• Southern Cushites
  Mostly lives in central Tanzania and lower Tana River regions of Kenya
  

  Kenya	Sanye, Dahalo
  Tanzania	Hawa iraqw, mbugu, burugu, avamanik, sandawe, hadza, makogodi

Nilotes

• Is the second largest group in eastern Africa
• Originated from Nile valley, bhar-el-ghezal in south Sudan
• They were pastoralists
• Mainly migrated in search of pasture and water
• They also practised fishing along the rivers
• Are divided into three sub groups namely
  
  1. River-lake nilotes
  2. Highland nilotes
  3.  Plain nilotes
• River-lake nilotes
  

  Kenya	Luo
  Uganda	Acholi, labwar, japadhola, langi, alur, lughbava
  Tanzania	Luo
  s.sudan	Shilluk, anuk, nuer, dinka

• Highland nilotes
  

  kenya	Kipsigis, nandi, tugen, keiyo, pokot, marakwet, sabaot, ogiek ,dorobo.
  uganda	Sebei, sabiny
  tanzania	Datoga

• Plain nilotes
  

  kenya	Samburu, maasai, turkana, njemps, iteso, el-molo-suk
  uganda	Karamanjong, jie, iteso
  tanzania	Maasai
  sudan	Yoposa
  ethiopia	Baria, gumuz

The Semites

• Migrated from south Arabia Asia into the horn of Africa
• They crossed into Africa through the red sea
• Others came through the Indian ocean
• Mainly migrated looking for trade items and trading opportunity
• They are found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan
  

  Kenya	Nubians
  Sudan	Nubians, arabs, amharas,
  Ethiopia	Falasha, arabs, tigreans, amharas, baggara
  Eritrea	Tigreans, amharas
  Somalia	Arabs

Reasons For The Migration Of Selected Language Groups Into Eastern Africa

• Migration of people from one place to settle in another place
• People migrate from one place to another because of various reasons

Reasons For The Migration Of The Bantus

• They wanted fertile farming land to grow groups
• Escape from hostile neighbours
• Population pressure
• Running away from Outbreak of pests and diseases
• Running away from Drought and famine
• Internal disputes and conflicts
• Their population had increased and so they were looking for space to settle

Reasons For The Migration Of The Nilotes

• Need for pasture and water
• Running away from Epidaemic (outbreak of diseases)
• Running away Hostile neighbours i.e. external attacks
• Internal conflicts/disputes
• Overpopulation
• Running away from Drought and famine

Reasons For The Migration Of The Cushites

• Need for pasture and water
• Outbreak of diseases epidemics
• Moving from Drought and hunger
• Hostile neighbours
• Running away from Internal conflicts among clan members
• Overpopulation hence need to settle away
• Spirit of adventure

Reasons For The Migration Of The Semites

• Need for better trading opportunities
• Search for trade goods
• Overpopulation
• Family and clan disputes
• Spirit of adventure
• Outbreak of human and animal diseases
• Spread their culture
• Wanted to spread Islam