Nyika

Nyika

people
also called  Mijikenda, or Nika,  

      any of several Northeast Bantu-speaking peoples including the Digo, who live along the coast of Kenya and Tanzania south from Mombasa to Pangani; the Giryama, who live north of Mombasa; and the Duruma, Jibana, Rabai, Ribe, Chonyi, Kaura, and Kambe, who live in the arid bush steppe (Swahili: nyika) west of the Digo and Giryama. All Nyika speak a Bantu language; some have taken over Swahili, once their second language, as a first language. Nyika society shows evidence of significant Arab influence.

      The Nyika subsist primarily by means of agriculture, growing a variety of crops. Animal husbandry is of considerable importance, especially among the Duruma. Fishing holds a prominent place in the economy of the Digo. All Nyika peoples engage extensively in trade.

      Polygyny is general, and a substantial bride-price is expected. Most of these peoples trace their descent through the male line, although the Digo, the Duruma, and the Rabai trace descent through both the male and the female lines. They are organized into a number of clans, and the men in the clans into a system of age grades. Position in this system—a cycling type—determines a man's responsibilities. Traditionally the Nyika were ruled by elders deriving authority from their age grade and their rank in secret societies.

      Many Nyika are Muslims, some are Christian, and perhaps a quarter retain traditional beliefs. There is widespread belief in ancestral spirits who are thought to require ritual pacification.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nyika — (Swahili für „Buschland“ bzw. das Hinterland der ostafrikanischen Küste) bezeichnet: eine Gruppe von Ethnien in Kenia, siehe Mijikenda ein Gebiet und Berg in Kenia, siehe Nyika (Kenia) Nyika Plateau, ein Plateau in Malawi und Sambia Nyika… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nyika — is a Swahili word meaning bush or hinterland (of the East African coast). More specifically, it can refer to: (also: Wanyika) a collective term for nine ethnic groups in coastal Kenya, see Mijikenda a desert in Kenya, see Nyiri Desert a plateau… …   Wikipedia

  • Nyika — Nyika, Ausdruck der Eingebornen für die große Steppe, die sich, im Anschluß an die Massaisteppe, durch deutsches und britisches Gebiet in Ostafrika nordwärts bis über den Sabaki und Tana erstreckt. Sie ist plateauartig erhoben, teils Gras , teils …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Nyika — plateau du nord du Malawi culminant à 2 606 m. Parc national; env. 90 000 ha …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Nyika-Nationalpark — Typische Landschaft des zentralen Plateaus im Nyika Nationalpark …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nyika National Park — IUCN Category II (National Park) Afromontane grassland of the Nyika Plateau …   Wikipedia

  • Nyika Rock Rat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Nyika Climbing Mouse — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

  • Nyika-Plateau — Typische Landschaft des zentralen Nyika Plateaus Das Nyika Plateau ist ein Hochland im Nordwesten von Malawi an der Grenze zu Sambia. Es trennt dabei zwei Gräben des Rift Valley Systems, das Luangwa Tal im Westen und den Malawisee im Osten. Je… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nyika National Park, Zambia — For the park of the same name in Malawi, see Nyika National Park. Nyika National Park lies in the northeast of Zambia, on the western edge of the Nyika Plateau, which is one of the highest parts of the country and most of which lies in… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”