MIJIKENDA

"Nine tribes, the Giriama, Digo, Duruma, Chonyi, Jibana, Ribe, Kambe, Rabai, and the Kauma, form part of the Mijikenda people group. Also known as the Nyika, the different tribes of the Mijikenda share a common linguistic, cultural, and historical heritage.

According to Mijikenda legend, the war-like Oroma drove them to fortified villages on the hill tops during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Although they have since dispersed from the area, they still return there annually to fulfil certain ritual obligations. Clan houses surrounded the meeting places of the elders in these hill top villages. Secret societies controlled specialized areas of knowledge and medicine. Strict laws regulated membership into these societies. The lower slopes were used for agricultural purposes. Eventually this area became an important trade link and market centres soon came into being.

Today the Mijikenda still grow various crops such as sorghum, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, millet, and cashew nuts. The demands of the tourist industry has also quickened the tempo of development. More and more Mijikenda are taking up commercial farming to supply the demand of the hotel industry. Swahili influence is also quite evident in their architecture. Coral blocks and corrugated aluminium sheeting are preferred to build the rectangular houses with rooms on either side of a central corridor, replacing the grass thatched building style. Growing interest in the Mijikenda was the result of the rise of Zanzibar. Missionaries went to the East African mainland and established mission stations during the mid nineteenth century. However, the harvest was limited as the Mijikenda had converted to Islam."

• Country: Kenya
• Percent Christian: 82.1%
• Percent Evangelical: 34%
• Population (Year): 30.8 million (1995)
• Major Religion: Christianity
• Openness to Missionaries: Open"

1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?

Who is Jesus Christ to them: 2*% Believe Jesus is the Son of God

2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?

Believers to population: 1 believer to every 50* persons (total believers - 24 020*)(2*%)

3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?

Churches to population: 1 church for every ? persons (total churches - ?)

4. DOES THIS PEOPLE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?

Of the nine dialects only the Giriama and Kambe have the Bible translated into their tongue; however, work on the other dialects is in progress.

5. ANY HINDRANCES TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION?

Their strict following of Islam hinders distribution.

6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Literature: ?
Radio: ?
Recordings: ?
Films: ?

7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?

Their culture is changing; however, new religion is met with resistance.

8. DO THEY REQUIRE OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE?

Yes. Life changing gospel presentations are needed."