Kamba (Kikamba)

Kamba is a member of the Northeast Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is spoken by about 3.9 million people mainly in southern Kenya, and also in northern Tanzania. In Kenya it is spoken particularly in the counties of Machakos, Kitui, Makueni and Kwale.

Kamba is also known as Kikamba. Dialects include Masaku (Machakos), South Kitui, North Kitui, and Mumoni (Kilungu). Written Kamba is based on the Masaku dialect, which is considered the standard variety.

Kamba was first documented and recorded in the early 20th century by Gerhard Lindblom, a Swedish ethnographer. It is written with the Latin alphabet.

Kamba alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Kamba (Excel)

Corrections by Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample text (Lord's Prayer)

Voyaai ta ũũ ĩndĩ: ‘Asa waitũ ũla wĩ ĩtunĩ,
ĩsyĩtwa yaku nĩyĩkumw'e;
ũsumbĩ waku nĩwũke; kwenda kwaku nĩkwĩkwe kũũ nthĩ o tondũ kwĩkawa ĩtunĩ.
Tũnenge kĩla mũthenya lĩu ũtwĩanĩe.
Tũekee mavĩtyo maitũ, o tondũ tũmaekeaa ala matũvĩtĩasya.
Ndũkatũlikye matatwanĩ; ĩndĩ ũtũvonokye kuma kwa Ũla Mũthũku.’

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/2774/MAT.6.KAMBA

Translation

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.6.kjv

Videos in Kamba

Information about Kamba | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Kamba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamba_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/kam
https://nalrc.indiana.edu/doc/brochures/kamba.pdf
https://www.livelingua.com/course/peace_corps/kikamba_language_lessons
https://kenyacradle.com/kamba-tribe/#Kamba_Tribe_8211_Kamba_Akamba_Language

Bantu languages

Bangi, Basaa, Bemba, Bena, Benga, Bukusu, Bulu, Central Teke, Chichewa, Chokwe, Chuwabu, Comorian, Digo, Duala, Eton, Ewondo, Fang, Ganda/Luganda, Gogo, Gusii, Gwere, Haya, Herero, Ikizu, Jita, Kamba, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kimbundu, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kisi, Kongo, Konjo, Koti, Kukuya, Kunda, Kuria, Lambya, Lingala, Loma, Lozi, Luba-Katanga, Luchazi, Lunda, Luvale, Makaa, Makonde, Makhuwa, Mandekan, Maore, Masaaba, Mbunda, Mende, Mongo, Mushungulu, Mwani, Nande, Nkore, North Teke, Northern Ndebele (South Africa), Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe), Northern Sotho, Nyamwezi, Nyakyusa, Nyemba, Nyole, Nyungwe, Nzadi, Oroko, OshiWambo, Pagibete, Punu, Ronga, Sena, Sengele, Shona, Soga, Songe, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Sukuma, Swahili, Swati, Tanga, Tembo, Tonga, Tshiluba, Tsonga, Tswa, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Yao, Yasa, Zigula, Zinza, Zulu

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 26.04.22. Last modified: 17.02.23

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