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Origin Community - Our Ethical Policy and Communities
THE AKAMBA
The Akamba (also known as the Kamba) are a Bantu people
who inhabit
the Central region of Kenya. This includes the districts
of Machakos
and Kitui. They are thought to have migrated from
Kilimanjaro and
settled in their present homeland. The Akamba people
constitute
12% of the Kenyan population (estimated at 30 million).
The Akamba are agriculturalists as well as pastoralists.
They kept
a lot of cattle and were well known for their stock. They
were also
hunters and used the trap hunting method.
The Akamba were great traders and their early trade
interaction
was mainly with the neighbouring Kikuyu, Embu, Tharaka and
Mijikenda
tribes. At this stage they traded mainly in arrow poisons
and iron
implements. The Akamba economy saw further growth with the
constant
arrival of the Ivory laden Kamba caravans at the coast.
The Ivory
was bartered for glass beads, salt, copper and cloth.
The Kamba are extremely skilled craftsmen and their
beautiful artwork
includes bracelets, inlaid stools and wood-carvings.
Usually the
women gather the wood, clean it and let it dry. The men
usually
carve the actual wood or stone. Once the carvings are
complete,
the women apply the finishing touch by polishing or
painting the
products.
The Kamba live in extended family units and the elders
control
the life within the clans. This practice ended with the
arrival
of the British as they appointed the leaders instead. The
Akamba
were highly regarded for their intelligence and fighting
ability
by the British, and many men joined the British Army.
All adolescents go through initiation rites before being
considered
as adults. Some of these ceremonies include male and
female circumcision.
The Akamba traditional dance is different from the other
societies
as it includes a lot of leaping and acrobatic stunts.
Scarring of
the chest and abdomen for ornamental purposes is also
common.
A SUMMARY
- The Akamba people make high quality wooden carvings
- Usually three main types of wood such as ebony,
mahogany and
rosewood are used for carvings, although other woods are
also
used
- The Akamba were great traders and were involved
heavily in the
Ivory trade
- The Akamba people live in an extended clan system
- The British had a high level of respect for the
Akamba's intelligence
and fighting ability
- All adolescents in the Akamba tribe go through
initiation rites
such as circumcision
- Scarring of the chest and abdomen for ornamental
purposes is
commo
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