Kamba
A language of Kenya
| Population | 3,960,000, increasing. |
| Region | South central, Eastern Province, Machakos and Kitui districts; Coast Province, Kwale District. |
| Language map |
Kenya, reference number 14 |
| Alternate names | Kekamba, Kikamba |
| Dialects | Masaku, South Kitui, North Kitui, Mumoni. Lexical similarity: 67% with Gikuyu [kik], 66% with Embu [ebu], 63% with Chuka [cuh], 57%–59% with Meru [mer]. |
| Classification | Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.20) |
| Language use | 600,000 L2 speakers. GIDS 5. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Kiswahili [swh] or English. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L1: More than 10% (BTL, 2007). Literacy rate in L2: 25%–60% (BTL, 2007). Taught in primary schools. Bible: 1956. |
| Writing system | Latin script. |
| Comments | The people call themselves Akamba, the place, Ukambani. Agriculturalists: sorghum, millet, maize, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, sugarcane, bananas, tobacco; animal husbandry: cattle, sheep, goats; traders; woodcarvers. Christian, traditional religion, Muslim. |
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