16th edition

US$ 100.00

Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Kenya > Kigiryama

Kigiryama

A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3: nyf

Population	623,000 (1994 I. Larsen), increasing. 496,000 Giryama, 17,000 Kauma, 19,000 Jibana, 13,000 Kambe, 72,000 Rabai, 6,000 Ribe.
Region	Coast Province, Kilifi and Kwale districts, north of Mombasa.
Language map	Kenya, reference number 17
Alternate names	Agiryama, Giriama, Kigiriama, Kinyika, Nika, Nyika
Dialects	Kauma, Ribe (Rihe), Kambe, Giryama, Chwaka, Rabai. Digo [dig] and Duruma [dug] are the most distinct from Giryama. Dialect speakers may understand Chonyi [coh]. Lexical similarity: 72% with Digo, 63% with Mrima [swh], 62% with Mvita [swh], 61% with Amu [swh], 59% with Lower Pokomo [poj] and Bajun [swh].
Classification	Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Nyika (E.40), Mijikenda
Language use	GIDS 6. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Kiswahili [swh] or English.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Bible: 1901.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	Different from Nyiha [nih] (Nyika) of Tanzania and Zambia. Strong traditional social system. 9 ethnic groups form the ‘Mijikenda’ community. Agriculturalists; cash crops. Traditional religion, Christian, Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

IHA, Samson; NZOMO, Stephen, editors. 1999. Kigiryama-Kiswahili-Kizungu: a basic Giryama-Kiswahili and English dictionary.

SIRYA, Stephen, author. 1994. "Change in the Agiryama world view of living space."

Vernacular Publications

Kadʼenge adzariwa ni noni mutsangamwenye?. 1997.

Maenderero ga laloni. 1997.

Ndhumo za kigiryama. 1999.

Ndzo dhome hushome: Ndzora za Kigiryama. 1995.

Ngano za Kigiryama. 1998.

Ukongo wa kumwaga. 1997.

Ukongo wa kumwaga. 1999.