MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF LINGUISTIC GROUPS IN KENYA
Introduction:
Between 1000-1800 AD, East Africa experienced a wave of migrations
from different parts of Africa. The Bantu from the Congo or the Niger
Delta Basin were the first to arrive, followed by   the Luo from Bahr
el Ghazel in Southern Sudan and then the Ngoni from Southern Africa.

The study of migrations will help the learners to understand their
origin and settlement patterns, appreciate the interrelationship
between the different peoples of East Africa like cultures, customs,
etc. They will also understand change and continuity in societies i.e.
life is not static but dynamic and this explains the current movements
of people to different parts of East Africa.
BANTU MIGRATION
Who were the Bantu?
The term Bantu refers to group of people who speak the same or similar
language with common word “NTU” which means a person. The
Bantu-speaking groups include the  Baganda, Banyoro, Batoro in Uganda,
Kikuyu, Akamba, Meru, Embu, Taita, Giryama, Digo in Kenya and Pokomo,
Chagga, Yao,  Segeju, Zaramo in Tanzania, as well as many other
smaller groups.

Origins
There are two versions explaining the migration of the Bantu.  The
first version asserts that the Bantu came from West Africa around the
Cameroon Highlands and Baunchi plateau of Nigeria; therefore, this
points to the Niger basin as the possible cradle land of the Bantu.
The second version posits that the Bantu came from the Katanga region
in Southeastern Congo.  Gradually they spread eastward north of the
forest and southward to the forest’s edge near the lower Congo or
Zaire and lower Kasai. The occupation of the north western (Cameroon-
Gabon) was fairly slow due to difference in languages. Else where
especially in eastern and southern Africa beginning at the edge of the
forest, the spread must have been fast due to the relationship in
languages.

Description of their movements and settlementede

The Bantu is believed to have moved in four groupfuyhks.  These groups
were; Interlacustrine Bantu, Central Bantu, Highland Bantu and
Southern Tanzania Bantu.



i)      Interlacustrine Bantu or Western Bantu
This group was also referred to as the lake region Bantu.  They
entered East Africa between L. Edward and Albert and settled in the
areas North and West of L. Victoria between 1000 – 1300 AD.  They were
basically agriculturists.  Others moved west to Kenya and Eastern
Uganda.

ii)     Central Bantu
These moved into East Africa between L. Edward and L. Tanganyika and
first settled in Central Tanzania between 1000 –1300 AD for example,
the Sukuma and Nyamwezi.  Others later crossed and settled in Tanzania
Plateau and Taita Hills around 1300 AD. Others moved north.

iii)    Highland Bantu
These settled in the Kenya Highlands around 1600 –1800 AD.  These
include the Kamba, Kikuyu, Embu, Chuka.  They probably moved north
from the Taita hills. Some writers have suggested that about 1300 the
Chuka came up from the Tana river and were the first to arrive in the
Mt. Kenya area. The Embu followed them, about 1425. The last group,
the Kikuyu seem to have arrived in the Muranga by the middle of the
16th Century and in Kiambu by the end of the 17th Century.  The
migration of the Emba further was halted by the Masaai.  The
migrations of the Meru and related groups probably began at the Coast.

iv)     Southern Tanzania Bantu
This group entered through L. Malawi and L. Tanganyika.  They are also
believed to Have come from East Africa around 1000 – 1300.  This group
includes the Bena, Yao, Hehe.

According to the tradition between about 1591 and 1698, the Swahili
sections of Kilidini, Changamwe and Tangana moved to Mombasa and
formed Kalindini town. Where they had earlier migrated from Shungwaya
because of attacks by the Galla and Somali. The Segeju and various
sections of the Milikenda and other Swahili groups to join the
Kilindini group and related peoples on the mainland behind Mombasa
later joined them.

The Pokomo and Segeju traditions also suggest the theory of dispersal
from Shunguwaya. The Pokomo say that they descended from Shunguwaya
Bantu immigrants. However, due to contacts with other groups, they
became a mixed community with Galla, Swahili, Segeju and Somali blood.
 The Segeju believed that in the second half of the 7th Century the
Galla attacked their ancestors. One group fled to the Lamu islands and
nearby areas where they intermarried with the local Swahili to form
the present Bajun or Tikuu. A second group fled to the lower Tana  and
ancestors of present- day Buu section of the Segeju left the lower
Tana and moved to the present homes.

Causes/reasons for the Bantu migration
The reasons for the migration of the Bantu are not known but they most
likely included the following;

1. Drought and famine: they moved due to the fear of famine, which
broke out due to overcrowding and drought. The climate in their cradle
land had become unreliable/unpredictable.

2. Population increase which resulted into over crowding: they
migrated due to population pressure, e.g. they became overpopulated in
their cradle land. This led to the scarcity of grazing and agriculture
land, and so they had to move to look for more land, both for
agriculture and for their cattle.

3. The constant attacks (external pressure) from stronger tribes in
West Africa and the Nile valley. They moved due to external pressure,
especially due to the migration of the Arabs into West Africa. The
Arabs were believed to be more hostile, and so Africans were forced to
move southwards.

4. Internal conflicts from the Bantu tribes: they migrated due to
internal misunderstandings/conflicts between the different clans.
These conflicts concerned the ownership of agriculture area, the
shortage of grazing lands and watering areas.

5. Epidemics and diseases/natural calamities: the Bantu moved due to
natural disasters, e.g. earthquakes, over flooding of rivers like
river Niger, sickness, diseases such as Nagana caused by Tsetse flies,
sleeping sickness e.t.c.

6. Search for fertile land: since they were predominantly farmers, the
Bantu migrated in order to find more land which could be more fertile
than the cradle land, which could no longer support them. E.g. they
had changed from hunting and gathering fruits, to farming and had even
discovered new crops such as yams, banana, and e.t.c

7. Love for adventure: they moved due to their desire for adventure,
i.e. they wanted to find out what was happening in other areas.

8. Group influence:

9. Need for water and pasture for their animals.

10. The Bantu migrated in order to export their iron-working culture.
They had discovered the knowledge of iron working and had invented
iron tools. These iron tools had transformed the agricultural sector
by making the clearing of land fro cultivation faster and more
efficient.

Effects of the Bantu migration.
The results of the Bantu migration were both positive and negative.
Positive results.
1. Introduction of iron working: they introduced iron-working and the
use of iron tools in the interior of East Africa were at first using
stone tolls but when iron-smelting was started, there was an increase
in food production.

2. Introduction of new crops e.g. yams, bananas: the Bantu introduced
and increased the knowledge of food and extensive crop cultivation.
Earlier on, the inhabitants of East Africa were food gatherers, but
with iron smelting and its results, food production seriously started.

3. Introduction of new language.

4. The absorbed other tribes e.g. the gathers: they led to a
widespread Bantu languages of “NTU” prefix in East Africa.

5. They displaced some people. The Ngoni displaced the Yao.

6. They introduced centralized administration: they introduced a
centralized system of government whereby the king acted as the overall
ruler, under whom were the other chiefs, down to the lay person.

7. Introduced a system of building permanent homes. They opened new
land to settlement in families, clans and villages.

8. The knowledge of iron smelting which the Bantu introduced led to
the making of hoes and pangas for tilling and clearing land, the bows,
arrows and spears for defense and protection.

9. They introduced subsistence agriculture, whereby they grew enough
food for home consumption, and the rest could be kept in case of
shortages, or be exchanged in barter trade.

10. They led to a rise of large states and bigger tribes in East
Africa, e.g. the Baganda, Kikuyu, Nyamwezi. e.t.c

Negative effects.

1. The Bantu migration led to depopulation. This was caused by the
frequent attacks made by the Bantu against the people East Africa for
land, through wars. Many people died through these wars, e.g. the
Zimba would attack people at the coast, kill them, and eat their fresh
(i.e. cannibalism).

2. There was loss of culture due to cultural absorption. This was
brought about due to Bantu intermarrying with the non- Bantu peoples,
whom they came across.
3. There was transformation of languages into new ones. This led to
the dying down of some of the Bantu languages, while others remained.