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In ancient times, the region around present day Kenya had many *DIVERSE African ethnicities, who each spoke their own language and practiced their own religion. There were almost 100 different *INDIGENOUS groups who spoke a variety of *AFRO-ASIATIC or *NILO-SAHARAN languages. They each practiced their own, local religions that incorporated *ANIMISTIC (beliefs that spirits lived in nature) and *ANCESTOR VENERATION (belief that ancestors could provide protection and guidance for society). -
*ARAB traders (Muslims from Arabian Peninsula) began settling in the Kenyan region beginning in the 700's CE, impacting the region's ethnicities, religion, and language. Many Arabs *MIGRATED (moved) to the region and created a new ethnicity. The Arabs spread *ISLAM (religion of Muhammad), and many Africans became *MUSLIMS (followers of Islam). To make communicating and trade possible, the new language of *SWAHILI (mix of African, Arabic and *PERSIAN (Iran) languages) was formed. -
In 1498 the *EUROPEANS “discovered” the Kenyan region and later tried to “civilize” it, and this impacted the religion practiced there. The *PORTUGUESE (Expert European explorers) were the first Europeans to arrive, and they introduced the *ROMAN CATHOLIC (a sect of Christianity) religion. In the following centuries, other *PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES (people of another Christian sect who tried to spread their religion) traveled to East Africa to *CONVERT (change) locals to the Christian religion. -
The Kenyan region was incorporated into the colony of *BRITISH EAST AFRICA in 1920, and this impacted the language spoken there. The British encouraged its citizens to move there to settle, and they gave these new settlers large tracts of land. The British took over all levels of government and made English the official language. The use of the English language remained even though the Kenyans gained their independence from Britain in 1963. -
Today Kenya has many African ethnic groups, two main religions and two official languages. *KIKUYU is the main ethnic group, but Arab culture has blended into the various ethnicities for centuries. 85% of Kenyans are *CHRISTIANS and over 10% are *MUSLIMS (followers of *ISLAM). Both English and *KISWAHILI (African language with Arabic/Persian influences) are official languages. English is used in education and the government.