Ekegusii

Ekegusii is a Bantu language spoken by the Gusii people of Kenya. It is primarily found in the Gusii highlands of southwestern Kenya, specifically in Kisii County and Nyamira County. Ekegusii is also known by several other names, including Ekigusi, Gusi, and Kisi. It is part of the larger Northeastern Bantu language family. Estimates of the number of speakers vary, but it is generally considered to be a language with a significant number of native speakers, likely in the millions. The language has a rich oral tradition, including proverbs, folktales, and songs, which are important aspects of Gusii culture. There are several dialects of Ekegusii, although they are generally mutually intelligible. Like many indigenous African languages, Ekegusii has faced challenges in recent times due to the influence of dominant national languages, but efforts are ongoing to preserve and promote its use. It is characterized by a complex noun class system and tonal features, common in Bantu languages. Education and media in Ekegusii are limited, but some efforts have been made to develop written materials and broadcast programs in the language.