Bajuni

Regions with significant populations
Kenya 24,387 (1970 estimate) [1]  Somalia 10,000 (1970s estimate) [2]
Languages
Kibajuni

The Bajuni people are a minority ethnic group that live in East Africa.

Overview[link]

The Bajuni principally inhabit the tiny Bajuni Islands in the Indian Ocean. Many also traditionally reside in Kenya, mainly in Mombasa and other towns in that country's Coast Province.^[2][3] Some are also found in the Kismayo region in more northerly Somalia.^[2]

The population's members trace their origins to diverse groups, primarily coastal Bantu and bushmanoid hunter-gather groups, as well as later additions such as Arab, Persian and Cushitic immigrants.^[2]

The Bajuni are traditionally fishermen and sailors. Some also pursue other trades such as metalwork.^[3]

Language[link]

The Bajuni people collectively refer to themselves and are known as Wabajuni. They speak Kibajuni, a dialect of the Bantu Swahili language.^[3]

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye (2001). Culture and customs of Somalia. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-313-31333-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=2Nu918tYMB8C. 
• Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2007). Kenya: identity of a nation. New Africa Press. ISBN 0-9802587-9-0. http://books.google.ca/books?id=lsqjN-t6mP4C. 
• Nurse, Derek; Thomas J. Hinnebusch, Gérard Philipson (1993). Swahili and Sabaki: a linguistic history. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-09775-0. http://books.google.ca/books?id=q3sOAAAAYAAJ.