Kikuyu

Kikuyu, also known as Gikuyu, is a Bantu language spoken by the Kikuyu people, the largest ethnic group in Kenya, primarily residing in the central highlands around Mount Kenya, including counties like Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Kiambu. Part of the Niger-Congo language family, Kikuyu features a rich system of noun classes and an agglutinative structure typical of Bantu languages. It serves as a vital means of communication in daily life, storytelling, music, and cultural ceremonies, while many speakers also use Swahili and English for education, business, and national discourse. Kikuyu holds significant cultural importance, preserving the community’s traditions, history, and identity through its vibrant oral literature and proverbs.