Ethnologue.com home

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
16th edition

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
US$ 100.00
Add to cart

Preview print edition

Most Recent
SIL Publications
Reduced Price SIL Publications

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

Okiek

A language of Kenya

ISO 639-3: oki

Population  42,000 in Kenya (2006).
Region  Rift Valley Province, Nakuru District, east Mau Escarpment. Sogoo in Mau Forest south between Amala and Ewas Ng’iro rivers near Nosogami stream. Also in Tanzania.
Language map  Kenya, reference number 35
Alternate names   Akie, Akiek, Kinare, “Ndorobo” , Ogiek
Dialects  Okiek, Suiei, Sogoo (Sokoo).
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Southern, Kalenjin, Okiek
A member of macrolanguage Kalenjin [kln] (Kenya).
Language use  Some “Ndorobo” languages have few remaining speakers. The Akiek in northern Tanzania now speak Maasai [mas]. The Akiek of Kinare in Kenya now speak Gikuyu [kik]. Those in Tanzania and Kenya are not in contact with each other. The Sogoo dialect may be extinct. GIDS 7. Home, social gatherings.
Comments  “Ndorobo” is a derogatory term for several hunter or forest groups, not linguistically related (El Molo, Yaaku, Okiek, Omotik, Aasáx). Hunter-gatherers (formerly); beekeepers. Christian.

Also spoken in:

Tanzania

Language name   Okiek
Region  North, south Arusha region. Akie small groups south of Arusha among Maasai [mas].
Language map  Tanzania, reference number 62
Alternate names  Akiek
Language use  Adults only. Also use Maasai. Some young people also know Swahili [swh].
Comments  Speakers in Tanzania and Kenya are not in touch with each other. Former hunter-gatherers.