The Kurias live in southwest Kenya where they have the Maasai, the Luo and the Maragoli as their neighbors. More than half of the Kuria people live across the border in Tanzania. Their language is one of the Bantu languages that they call Igikuria. Historically, the Kuria people were pastoralists, keeping very large herds of cattle and growing subsistence crops like cassava, millet, finger millet and sweet potatoes.
Like most African tribes, the Kuria people have historically lived in homesteads made of circular grass thatched huts. The homesteads vary in size, the bigger ones belonging to the polygamists. Having many wives and a large homestead are signs of prestige. Today, the general lifestyle of the Kuria people is changing. They are now involved in cash crop farming, concentrating on tobacco. They keep fewer and fewer animals, as many farmers are selling them to educate their children. With increased population, land is becoming too limited to keep many animals. Cattle rustling in the 1970s contributed to the decreased role of animal herding.
In the past, education was not well received among the Kurias despite the great educational efforts of early mission groups including the Catholic mission of Isibania, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) mission of Nyabikaye, the PEFA mission of Taranganya and the Maranatha mission of Komotobo. This accounts for the low literacy rate among the Kurias and the large number who are animists. Fifty percent (50%) claim to be Christians, but few are evangelical. Fortunately this trend is changing dramatically as more Kurias receive formal education. Hopefully education will speed the development of the Kuria people and the use of their language. There is a great need for the New Testament to be distributed and put to use by the Kuria people.
Scripture Prayers for the Kuria in Tanzania.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Kuria |
People Name in Country | Kuria |
Alternate Names | Tende |
Population this Country | 821,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,150,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 12876 |
ROP3 Code | 105455 |
Country | Tanzania | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Morogoro region; Dodoma region: Kilosa district; Tanga and Manyara regions. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Tanzania |
Region | Africa, East and Southern |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Morogoro region; Dodoma region: Kilosa district; Tanga and Manyara regions.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 15.00 %) |
76.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
11.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
12.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
1.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kuria (821,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kuj Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Kuria (821,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kuj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Kuria |
Primary Language: Kuria
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1969-1975) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1995-1996) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2022) |
Bible-NT Text | 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 Kuria | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Kuria | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Kuria | Literacy & Evangelism International |
Photo Source | Angela Sevin - Flickr Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |