The population of Kenya is about 32 million. There are numerous tribes in Kenya. The majority of the tribes are the descendants of two language groups: The Bantu of Western Africa, and the Nilotic of the Nile Valley. As the larger cities attract more people, and as Kenya becomes more like the West, fewer and fewer Kenyan's live a traditional life.
English and Swahili are the languages taught throughout the country, but there are many other Tribal languages. Which are the Kiyuku, Luhia, Lou and Kikamba. A person traveling around Kenya, (especially Urban Areas) would mostly need to use the language of Swahili. Another language you will come across in Sheng. It is mostly spoken by the younger members of society.It is a very recent development. Sheng is a mixture of Swahili and English along with a few mixtures of other languages.
(The style known as Benga is the contemporary dance music in Kenya. It started from the western people among the Lou and became popular in the area in the 1950s.)
The Kenya National Theatres is incorporated in the Kenya Culture Centre. The Theatre was made in 1968 to provide training theatrical techniques, which include the writing of plays and learning to act out plays. Swahili literature, both oral and written, shows the tradition of Kenya. Contemporary novelists, including Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Mugo Gatheru, have to make there poetry realistic.
Check out the National Anthem of Kenya in Kiswahili!
Ee mungu nguvu yetu
Ilete baraka kwetu
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi
Amkeni ndugu zetu
Tufanye sote bidii
Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu
Nchi yetu ya Kenya
Tunayoipenda
Natujenge taifa letu
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu
Kenya istahili heshima
Tunngane mikono
Pamoja kazini
Kila siku tuwe na shurkrani.
