Mbeere
Map of the population around Mount Kenya (in french)
Total population
195,250[1]
Regions with significant populations
Kenya
Languages
Embu (Kīmbeere dialect) • English
Religion
African Traditional Religion • Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, Kamba, Sonjo and Dhaiso

The Mbeere or Ambeere people are a Bantu ethnic group inhabiting the former Mbeere District in the now-defunct Eastern Province of Kenya. According to the 2019 Kenya National census, there are 195,250[1] Mbeere who inhabit an area of 2,093 km². They speak Kīmbeere language, a dialect of Embu, which is very similar to the languages spoken by their neighbours, the Kamba, Embu and Kikuyu.[2]

History

The Mbeere are of Bantu origin.[3] Like the closely related Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba, they are concentrated in the vicinity of Mount Kenya. The exact place that the Mbeere's ancestors migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion from West Africa is uncertain. Some authorities suggest that they arrived in their present Mount Kenya homeland from earlier settlements to the north and east,[3] while others argue that the Mbeere – along with closely related Eastern Bantu peoples such as the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba – moved into Kenya from further south.[4]

Economy

Most Mbeere are farmers who grow a variety of crops including mangoes, melons, pawpaws, passion fruits, maize, beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, black peas, millet, sorghum, etc.

The former Mbeere District is known for miraa, of which it was the second largest producer after Meru District. The miraa crop is commonly grown in the northern part of the district. Apart from the Miraa and other farming activities, Mbeere District was known as the source of the building materials such as rocks, ballast, and sand used all over Kenya. Charcoal was also widely produced in Mbeere District. Other economic activities such basket making, ropes, and rearing animals such as cows and goats were also prevalent in the district.

References

  1. 1 2 "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. ↑ ""A Case for the Harmonization of Kikuyu, Kiembu and Kimbeere Phonology and Orthography" Chapter in Ogechi N. O. et. al: The Harmonization and Standardization of Kenyan Languages: Orthography and Other Aspects. | DR. IRIBE MWANGI". Profiles.uonbi.ac.ke. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  3. 1 2 Joseph Bindloss, Tom Parkinson, Matt Fletcher, Lonely Planet Kenya, (Lonely Planet: 2003), p.35.
  4. ↑ Arnold Curtis, Kenya: a visitor's guide, (Evans Brothers: 1985), p.7.
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