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Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Minority-Minoritized Languages and Cultures Project. NEH Distinguished Professor. TXST University.
Abstract
Ekegusii is a Bantu language spoken by the Abagusii (translated as people of Gusii) who
reside in Kisii and Nyamira counties (see e.g. Nash, 2011; Omoke 2012; Basweti et. al.
2015). According to the 2019 National Census, Ekegusii has an estimated number of native
speakers totaling 2.7 million. The Abagusii are believed to have migrated from the Congo
forest through Uganda entering Kenya through the Western part of the country. In Gusii
folklore, their people’s origin is from a place called ‘Misiri,’ Egypt. The Abagusii community
is bordered to the East by the Kipsigis, to the West by the Luo, and to the South by the
Maasai, all of whom are Nilotic speakers. They do not neighbour any Bantu speakers.
Guthrie, (1971) in his zonal classification of languages classifies Ekegusii as a central Bantu
language part of the sub-family of the Kuria language labeled E. 42 (Maho, 2003). He relates
it to other languages including Lulogooli, Ameru (Kenya) Kuria (Kenya and Tanzania) Ware,
Ikizu, Ikoma, and Sanjo (Tanzania). Just like the majority of Bantu languages, Ekegusii is a
tone language. The following map situates Kisii and Nyamira counties of Kenya, where
Ekegusii is predomintly spoken.