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The Culture of Kenya is intriguing for an anthropologist and a tourist alike. The history of Kenya reveals the presence of humankind in Kenya from the early Stone Age. Kenya was also a migratory path, which saw the arrival of clans and tribes from Africa and the Middle East.
In modern times Kenya had become the victim of colonization. The Portuguese arrived at the end of the 15th century. They were replaced by two Arab dynasties. The Arab supremacy lasted till the 18th century when Kenya fell into the hands of the British. |
After a long and bloody struggle for independence, Kenya became independent in 1963. Although Kenya has witnessed a long period of internal and external strife, in recent years it has been moving toward a more stable, multi-party political system.
The history of Kenya reveals that Kenya is but a cultural microcosm of the larger continent of Africa. About 97% of Kenya's population comprises of people of African descent who belong to over 70 different tribal groups. Among the most significant Kenya Tribes are the Kikuyu, Kamba, Gusii, Luhya, and Luo. Kenya's primary languages are English and Swahili, though there are many regional tribal languages. Kenya has developed its own lingua franca, Swahili, which is a Bantu language with strong traces of Arabic. Interestingly enough, the word safari is Swahili, which means travel.
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