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The Kikuyu people as Gikuyu or Agikuyu
The Kikuyu people, known as Gikuyu or Agikuyu, are a prominent Bantu ethnic group primarily concentrated in Central Kenya, with a population of approximately 8.1 million as of 2019, making them the largest ethnic group in Kenya. Their language, Gĩkũyũ, is part of the Northeastern Bantu group and is closely related to languages spoken by neighboring groups such as the Embu, Meru, and Mbeere. Historically, the Kikuyu have a rich cultural heritage rooted in their agricultural lifestyle and communal traditions. They traditionally lived in homesteads known as “manyatta,” consisting of circular houses made of mud and thatch roofs. Social organization revolved around family units led by elders, with community decisions…