The large Tharaka community occupies the low plains between the slopes of Mount Kenya in the west and the upper Tana River in the east. Their history of immigration dates back to the spread of the Bantu people from southern Africa. About one-tenth live in towns, the rest in villages. Village life is considered the superior lifestyle as it preserves their tradition and culture.
They are farmers, keeping cows, goats and sheep and growing cereal crops, cotton, and sun flowers. They trade with people all over the nation and the economy has developed quickly in recent years.
A sense of belonging is an important aspect of life among the Tharaka people. The most respected person is a "mukuru" (elder), who gives advice and settles disputes in the community. A man has to go through several stages in life and education before reaching this highest state.
Marriage brings the woman's family into close relation with the man's and involves a high bride price paid by the husband's father to the wife's father. During the ceremony itself there is a lot of celebrating and beer drinking. Other celebrations take place during circumcision ceremonies, on the birth of a child and in the harvests of June and January.
The first preaching of the Gospel was very opposed, but when one of their own people responded many more were encouraged by example to do the same. Christianity has spread rapidly since the arrival of the Pentecostals in 1960 and after Independence when mission schools were allowed to open. An estimated one-fifth are active Christians, but 70% have changed from traditional religion and believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
The current needs in Tharaka are for better roads and communication, better health care, provision for famine and drought relief and education. The translation of the Bible into Tharaka is also very important as 40% of the population speak only Tharaka.
Scripture Prayers for the Tharaka in Kenya.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Other PDF Profile |
People Name General | Tharaka |
People Name in Country | Tharaka |
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 231,000 |
Population all Countries | 231,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 15463 |
ROP3 Code | 110009 |
Country | Kenya | ||
Region | Africa, East and Southern | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Embu, Meru, and Tharaka-Nithi counties. 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 | Embu, Meru, and Tharaka-Nithi counties.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 22.00 %) |
43.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
57.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kitharaka (231,000 speakers) |
Language Code | thk Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Tharaka |
Dialect Code | 20666 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Kitharaka (231,000 speakers) |
Language Code | thk Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Tharaka |
Dialect Code | 20666 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Kitharaka |
Primary Language: Kitharaka
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1934-1996) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2000-2002) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2017-2018) |
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 |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories | One Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kitharaka | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Kitharaka | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Lauren Ramsey |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |