Kipfokomo

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A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3
pkb
Alternate Names
Kipokomo, Lower Pokomo, Malachini, Pfokomo, Upper Pokomo
Population

95,000 (2009 census), increasing.

Location

Coast Province, Tana River district, Upper and Lower Tana river.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Nyika (E.71)
Dialects

Buu I, Buu II, Buu III, Dzunza, Gwano, Kalindi, Kinakomba, Kulesa, Malalulu, Mwina, Ndera, Ndura, Ngatana, Zubaki. Lexical similarity: 63% with Mvita [swh], 61% with Amu [swh], 60% with Mrima [swh], 59% with Kigiryama [nyf], 58% with Chidigo [dig], 57% with Bajun [swh].

Language Use

Home, social gatherings, church. All ages. Positive attitudes. 75% somewhat bilingual in Kiswahili [swh].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Advocacy to introduce L1 for lower primary school. Taught in primary schools for nursery classes. Poetry. Films. NT: 2003–2004.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kipfokomo
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Muslim.