Nilots
The Nilots are those African peoples who speak Nilotic languages .
The Nilots were originally farmers and ranchers. From their " original home ", presumed to be in South Sudan , they have spread mainly to the south in the last few centuries and in some cases subjected them to Bantu-speaking peoples. Today, in addition to South Sudan, they mainly populate Uganda , Kenya , Tanzania and the far west of Ethiopia . During the southern hike, some groups probably gave up their language in favor of the language of the conquered. Some of the Nilotes migrating south became pure cattle breeders, like the Maasai .
Compared to the peoples living in the Abyssinian highlands ( Habescha ), Nilotes are very dark-skinned and often noticeably tall and slim.
Nilotic ethnic groups, which were linguistically and culturally influenced by peoples of the Afro-Asian language group (specifically mainly by speakers of Cushitic languages ) are also known as "Nilo-Hamites". This applies to the Samburu, who are allied with the Rendille , but also to the Maasai, Teso, Nandi, Pokot and others. The name has held up so far, although the term Hamiten has otherwise largely fallen out of use.
The following peoples belong to the Nilots:
Kipsigis, Nandi, Pokot and Tugen belong to the subgroup of the Kalendjin .
Individual evidence
- ^ Günther Schlee : Identities on the move. Clanship and pastoralism in northern Kenya. Manchester University Press, Manchester 1989, ISBN 0-7190-3010-2 , p. 34f on "nilo-hamitisch"