Camus people
Encyclopedia
The Camus are a Maa people living south and southeast of Lake Baringo
, Kenya
. They number about 19,000 and are closely related to the Samburu
living more to the north-east in the Rift Valley Province. Their language is one of the Eastern Nilotic
Maa languages
, closely related to the Samburu language
(between 89% and 94% lexical similarity), to the point of it being considered a Samburu dialect by some. Together, Samburu and Camus form the northern division of the Maa languages. [Heine 1980; Vossen 1982]
In their oral traditions, the Camus economy underwent a succession of elaborations: from foraging and fishing to a sophisticated system of irrigation, and then this was mixed with pastoralism under the influence of Samburu immigrants and neighbouring Maasai. These changes involved a series of embellishments in their culture and social organization. [Spencer 1998: 129-203]. However, this evolving system did not survive the challenges of the capitalist economy in post-colonial Kenya, leading to a more polarized society with diminishing prospects for the majority of Camus. [Little 1992]
I am one of the Ilchamus person of Kenya. I am proud to be one for these are unique men and women ever found in the universe.
For ages the world not knowing much about us has been writing wrong history out of lack of knowledge and perhaps shoddy research.
First the correct name is Ilchamus and not any other theories! Secondly we are more inclined to maasai than samburu and not the other way. Though we all belong to one re known group the Maa.
I will add more we am free.
Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo is, after Lake Turkana, the most northern of the Great Rift Valley lakes of Kenya, with a surface area of about and an elevation of about . The lake is fed by several rivers, El Molo, Perkerra and Ol Arabel, and has no obvious outlet; the waters are assumed to seep through lake...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. They number about 19,000 and are closely related to the Samburu
Samburu
The Samburu are a Nilotic people of north-central Kenya that are related to but distinct from the Maasai. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and camels. The name they use for themselves is Lokop or Loikop, a term which may have a variety of...
living more to the north-east in the Rift Valley Province. Their language is one of the Eastern Nilotic
Eastern Nilotic languages
The Eastern Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan; they are believed to have begun to diverge about 3,000 years ago, and have spread southwards from an original home in Equatoria in...
Maa languages
Maa languages
The Maa languages are a group of closely related Eastern Nilotic languages spoken in parts of Kenya and Tanzania by more than a million speakers altogether. They are subdivided into North and South Maa...
, closely related to the Samburu language
Samburu language
Samburu is the Eastern Nilotic, North Maa language spoken by the Samburu in the highlands of northern Kenya. The Samburu number about 128,000 . Samburu is closely related to Camus and to the South Maa language Maasai...
(between 89% and 94% lexical similarity), to the point of it being considered a Samburu dialect by some. Together, Samburu and Camus form the northern division of the Maa languages. [Heine 1980; Vossen 1982]
In their oral traditions, the Camus economy underwent a succession of elaborations: from foraging and fishing to a sophisticated system of irrigation, and then this was mixed with pastoralism under the influence of Samburu immigrants and neighbouring Maasai. These changes involved a series of embellishments in their culture and social organization. [Spencer 1998: 129-203]. However, this evolving system did not survive the challenges of the capitalist economy in post-colonial Kenya, leading to a more polarized society with diminishing prospects for the majority of Camus. [Little 1992]
See also
- KambaKambaThe Kamba are a Bantu ethnic group who live in the semi-arid Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya. This land is called Ukambani. Sources vary on whether they are the third, fourth or the fifth largest ethnic group in Kenya...
- Meru
- KiambuKiambuKiambu is a town in Central Province, Kenya. It is located at around , in the elevation of about 1,720 m. It has an urban population of 13,814. It is the capital of the Kiambu District, which bounds the northern border of Nairobi...
I am one of the Ilchamus person of Kenya. I am proud to be one for these are unique men and women ever found in the universe.
For ages the world not knowing much about us has been writing wrong history out of lack of knowledge and perhaps shoddy research.
First the correct name is Ilchamus and not any other theories! Secondly we are more inclined to maasai than samburu and not the other way. Though we all belong to one re known group the Maa.
I will add more we am free.