Kigiryama

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
nyf
Alternate Names
Agiryama, Giriama, Giryama, Kigiriama, Kinyika, Nika, Nyika
Autonym
Kigiryama
User Population

1,160,000 (2019 census), increasing, based on ethnicity. 1,000,000 Giryama; 31,000 Kambe; 126,000 Rabai; 10,700 Ribe (2019 census).

Location

Kilifi and Kwale counties: north of Mombasa; Tana River county.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Nyika-Taita (E.72)
Dialects

Ribe (Rihe), Kambe, Chwaka, Rabai. Dialect speakers may understand Chichonyi-Chidzihana-Chikauma [coh]. Lexical similarity: 72% with Chidigo [dig], 63% with Mrima [swh], 62% with Mvita [swh], 61% with Amu [swh], 59% with Kipfokomo [pkb] and Bajun [swh].

Language Use

Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Chichonyi-Chidzihana-Chikauma [coh]. Also use English [eng], which is learned by school children. Also use Kipfokomo [pkb]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Chichonyi-Chidzihana-Chikauma [coh], Kipfokomo [pkb], Waata [ssn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Bible: 1901–2018.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kigiryama
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Giryama is the people name and largest group of the Mijikenda community, which is formed by 9 ethnic groups. Strong traditional social system. Traditional religion, Christian.