Kamba | Ethnologue

A language of Kenya

ISO 639: kam
Alternate Names: Akamba, Kĩĩkamba, Kiikamba, Kikamba
Autonym: Kĩkamba
Population: 5,260,000 in Kenya, all users. L1 users: 4,660,000 in Kenya (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 600,000. Total users in all countries: 5,260,000 (as L1: 4,660,000; as L2: 600,000).
Location:: Kajiado, Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties; Kwale county: Shimba hills and Lunga Lunga areas; Taita-Taveta county: small border area.
Language Status: 4 (Educational).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.55)
Dialects: Masaku (Machakos), South Kitui, North Kitui, Mumoni. Lexical similarity: 67% with Gikuyu [kik], 66% with Embu [ebu], 63% with Chuka [cuh], 57%–59% with Kimîîru [mer].
Language Use: Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: More than 10% (2007 BTL). Literacy rate in L2: 25%–60% (2007 BTL). Taught in primary schools. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1956.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kamba
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.

Tanzania

Location: Kilimanjaro region: Moshi Rural and Rombo districts; Manyara region: Kiteto district; Morogoro region: Kilosa district; Tanga region: Korogwe, Lushoto, Mkinga, and Muheza districts.
Language Status: 5 (Dispersed)

Location: Kajiado, Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties; Kwale county: Shimba hills and Lunga Lunga areas; Taita-Taveta county: small border area.