Taveta in Kenya


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Tavetas inhabit the area at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Their homeland covers the swampy area from Lake Jipe along the Tanzania border and Lake Chala across the Maktau plains. Lake Chala is a crater lake, whose waters are crystal clear. Tsavo National Park is found in the Maktau plains. Lake Chala has crocodiles and Lake Jipe has hippos. The area has plenty of wildlife, which is now protected by the Park. The Tavetas are only linguistically related to the Taita and have no relation whatsoever with the Mijikenda. They appear to have elements of Kamba and Maasai cultures but maintain a separate identity.

Among them are other subgroups, namely, Kasigau, Sagalla and Dawida. Tavetas are popularly known as agriculturists and for their skills as smithies and craftsmen. Those near the waters practice some fishing. Plantations of pineapples, tea, coffee and sisal are common sights. On a subsistence scale, they grow vegetables, bananas and mangoes. Houses are either round or square huts, wooden poles and mud-plastered walls. The roof is thatched with banana palm leaves.

The most important types of traditional property were land and livestock, which provided the means to sustain life. Individual ownership rights were vested in the family head, who allocated usage rights as required. Females could not own land, even through married sons until the father's death. Plots are allocated to women for them to cultivate, sometimes including allocation to unmarried daughters.

A lot of reverence for spirits of ancestors pervades the society. Family and community prayers are conducted in shrines as they chant incantations to the spirits. The skulls of ancestors are kept in the clan caves. Prayers are made over the skulls for they are believed to bring good favor. Tribal spirits are revered but they guard and affect their territory, only. Today only a few Taveta follow these traditions, because many have integrated with the national culture.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Taveta in Kenya.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Taveta
People Name in Country Taveta
Alternate Names Taita-Taveta; Tubeta
Population this Country 28,000
Population all Countries 36,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 15298
ROP3 Code 109894
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Taita-Taveta county; Kajiado county: east of Mount Kilimanjaro.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Kenya
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Taita-Taveta county; Kajiado county: east of Mount Kilimanjaro..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 37.00 %)
72.00 %
Ethnic Religions
13.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
15.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Taveta (28,000 speakers)
Language Code tvs   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Taveta (28,000 speakers)
Language Code tvs   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Taveta

Primary Language:  Taveta

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1892-1905)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1906)
Bible-Complete No
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Taveta Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Taveta YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Taveta YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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