Kamba

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
kam
Alternate Names
Akamba, Kĩĩkamba, Kiikamba, Kikamba
Autonym
Kĩkamba
User Population

5,260,000 in Kenya, all users. L1 users: 4,660,000 in Kenya (2019 census), increasing, based on ethnicity. L2 users: 600,000. Total users in all countries: 5,260,000 (as L1: 4,660,000; as L2: 600,000).

Location

Kajiado, Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties; Kwale county: Shimba hills and Lunga Lunga areas; Taita-Taveta county: small border area.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.55)
Dialects

Masaku (Machakos), South Kitui, North Kitui, Mumoni. Lexical similarity: 67% with Gikuyu [kik], 66% with Embu [ebu], 63% with Chuka [cuh], 57%–59% with Kimîîru [mer].

Language Use

Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: More than 10% (2007 BTL). Literacy rate in L2: 25%–60% (2007 BTL). Taught as subject in some primary schools. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1956.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kamba
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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