The 'Pokomo' are an ethnic group of Kenya, from the Bantu language group. They are predominantly agriculturalists and fresh water fishermen living along the River Tana in the Tana River County. They speak Pokomo language: 'Kipokomo '.
They live along the River Tana in the Tana River County.
Pokomos are found along the Tana River riverine and the flood plains. 'Tana' comes from the word 'Chana ', which means river. The Pokomo have always referred to River Tana as 'Chana Maro ', that is River Maro. Probably the word 'Chana' is coined from either side with the Kikuyu word 'Chania ', which is the same word that Kikuyu use to refer to one of the tributary of Tana: River Chania . Pokomos are mainly farmers and have all along depended on the flooding regime of River Tana to grow rice, bananas, green grams, beans and maize. The staple food of the Pokomo is rice and fish. Other famous food staples include 'Matoli '-cooked banana chips mixed with fish,' Marika '- cooked banana mixed with fish and smashed together, 'Konole '-cooked mixture of sifted maize and green gram/beans, 'Nkumbu '-ash baked or boiled banana. Currently, 'sima' or 'ugali' in Kiswahili or stiff cornmeal porridge in English has become the main Pokomo dish due to changing or nonexistence of river flooding regimes and weather that is not able to support the cultivation of rice.
'Kijo' is a group of elders who were believed to possess spiritual powers and were sought whenever the community needs spiritual guidance. There were times during the year when people would gather near the sacred places in the night singing and dancing 'Gangana' and the spiritual leader would emerge from the forest in the middle of the night walking on poles covered with a white dress and his face covered with a mask. He will walk around and go back into the forest, leaving behind a hysterical group of people believing that their prayers have been answered. Within the Kijo there were two other groups i.e. the 'Gangana' or healers and the 'Chawi' or witches. 'Kijo' were very powerful and they had absolute powers to take by force family lands, and banish anybody from 'gaga dya Maro '- Maroland if he goes against the Pokomo norms. The Political governance of the Pokomo was headed by the 'Gasa '. This was also a group of council of elders who were revered and believed to possess wisdom on solving political and administering justice. The 'Gasa' is the only elder group which is still in existence and it is sought to give political guidance to the Pokomo community to date. The Gasa has also been formally recognized to dispense justice on land and family cases.
Currently, Pokomo need education and opportunities of exposure.
Scripture Prayers for the Pokomo in Kenya.
Profile Source: Maro Andy Tola |
People Name General | Pokomo |
People Name in Country | Pokomo |
Alternate Names | Lower; Lower Pokomo; Malachini |
Population this Country | 117,000 |
Population all Countries | 117,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 5 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 13120 |
ROP3 Code | 105883 |
Country | Kenya | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties: upper and lower Tana river between Tulu and Masabubu. 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 | Lamu, Garissa, and Tana River counties: upper and lower Tana river between Tulu and Masabubu.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 18.00 %) |
25.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
10.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
65.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kipfokomo (117,000 speakers) |
Language Code | pkb Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Pokomo |
Dialect Code | 15706 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Kipfokomo (117,000 speakers) |
Language Code | pkb Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Pokomo |
Dialect Code | 15706 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Kipfokomo |
Primary Language: Kipfokomo
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2007) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1902-2004) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | 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 |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kipfokomo | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Kipfokomo | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Maro Andy Tola |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |