Mbeere people
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 168,155 [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Kenya |
|
| Languages | |
| Kiembu, Mbeere | |
| Religion | |
| African Traditional Religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, Kamba, other Bantu peoples |
The Mbeere or Ambeere people are a Bantu ethnic group inhabiting the former Mbeere District in the now defunct Eastern Province of Kenya. According to the latest Kenya National census, there are 168,155 [2] Ambeere who inhabit an area of 2,093 km². They speak Kimbeere language, which is a dialect very similar to the one spoken by their neighbours and cousins, the Embu and Kikuyu. [3] The Mbeere are however just group of the Embu.
Mbeere district hosted the famous seven folks dams, which include: Masinga dam, Kamburu dam, Gitaru dam, Kindaruma dam and Kiambere dam. The dams are a part of Tana River. Other local places of interest include the Mwea National Reserve, and Kiangombe mountain, which peaked at 1804 metres stands out compared to adjacent topography, although is not as spectacular as the Mount Kenya located less than 100 kilometres northwest.
History
The Mbeere are of Bantu origin.[4] Like the closely related Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba, they are concentrated in the vicinity of Mount Kenya. The exact place that the Mbeere's ancestors migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion from West Africa is uncertain. Some authorities suggest that they arrived in their present Mount Kenya area of in habitation from earlier settlements further to the north and east,[4] while others argue that the Mbeere, along with the closely related Eastern Bantu people the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba moved into Kenya from points further south.[5]
Economy
Most Ambeeres are farmers who grow a variety of crops including Mangoes, melons, pawpaws and passion fruits, maize, beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, black peas-njavi, millet, sorghum etc.
Mbeere district also came to be known for Miraa, 2nd largest producer after Meru District. The miraa crop is commonly grown in the Northern part of the district.
References
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Joseph Bindloss, Tom Parkinson, Matt Fletcher, Lonely Planet Kenya, (Lonely Planet: 2003), p.35.
- ↑ Arnold Curtis, Kenya: a visitor's guide, (Evans Brothers: 1985), p.7.
