- Population is the number of people living in an area.
- People in Eastern Africa are grouped according to their languages.
- A group of people who speak almost a similar language is called a language group.
- There are four main language groups in Eastern Africa. They include the following;

A. The Bantus

- The Bantus migrated from Congo forest.
- They were cultivators.
- The Bantu communities found in Eastern Africa are:

• KENYA:- Abaluhya, Abagusii, Abakuria, Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu, Mbeere, Akamba, Taita, Pokomo, Mijikenda
• UGANDA:- Baganda, Banyankole, Basoga, Bagisu, Batoro, Banyoro
• TANZANIA:- Chagga, Sukuma, Gogo, Hehe, Ngoni, Yao, Ha, Makonde, Zaramo, Wapare, Wafipa, Nyamwezi

Reasons for the migration of Bantus to Eastern Africa

1. Search for fertile land
2. Population increase and pressure
3. Outbreak of diseases
4. Drought and famine
5. Internal Disputes
6. Attacks from the hostile neighbours.

B. The Nilotes

- The Nilotes migrated from Southern Sudan.
- The Nilotes are divided into three'
- Nilotes found in Eastern Africa are;
a) Kenya

• Highland Nilotes:- Kipsigis, Nandi, Tugen, Keiyo, Pokot, Bok, Bongomek, Sabaot, Terik, Ogiek, Marakwet
• River lake Nilotes:- Luo
• Plain Nilotes:- Samburu, Maasai, Iteso, Njemps, Turkana

b) Uganda

• Highland Nilotes:- Sebei
• River lake Nilotes:- Alur, Lugbara, Lango, Jopadhola, Acholi
• Plain Nilotes:- Karamajong, Jie, Iteso

c) Tanzania

• Highland Nilotes:- Dadoga
• Plain Nilotes:- Maasai

d) South Sudan

• River lake Nilotes:- Dinka, Nuer, Anuak, Ajur, Chilluk

Reasons for the migration of Nilotes

1. Search for water and pasture (main)
2. Attacks by diseases both for their livestock and people
3. Internal disputes
4. Outbreak of drought and famine
5. Attacks from the hostile neighbours

C. Cushites

- The cushites entered Eastern Africa from the Horn of Africa.
- They are nomadic pastoralists.
- They are divided into two;

Eastern Cushites include:-

• Somali, Gabbra, Borana, Burji, Oromo, Orma, Rendile, Afar

Southern Cushites are:-

• Dahalo, Sanye, Hawa, Mbugu, Aramanik, Iraqw, Burungu

Reasons for the migration of Cushites

1. Search for water and pasture
2. Attacks from hostile neighbours
3. Outbreak of diseases

D. Semites

- Semites in Eastern Africa originated from South Arabia, others from Asian countries.
- Semites mainly moved into Eastern Africa to trade.
- Examples of Semites are:- Amharas, Tigerians, Arabs, Nubian, Farasha

- Population distribution is the way the population is spread out in a given area.
- Population distribution is influenced by the following factors.

1. Climate:- this is the main factor that determine population distribution.
2. Soils:- Fertile soils attract more people, infertile soil discourage human settlement.
3. Relief:- Plains and gentle slopes encourage human settlement while steep slopes and depressions discourage.
4. Vegetation:- Natural vegetation such as grass encourages pastoralists to settle in that area.
5. Presence of water and drainage:- Presence of water encourages human settlement while poor drainage discourages.
6. Economic activities:- Mining activities, industries, plantations, ranches, trading activities attract many people.

Effects of high population distribution

1. Shortage of enough social services such as hospitals, schools, water supply.
2. Availability of cheap labour.
3. Availability of market for goods produced.
4. Scarcity of land.

Effects of low population density

1. Lack of market for goods produced.
2. Lack of labour.
3. Unutilized resources like schools, hospitals, water.

Culture and Social Organization

- Culture is the way of life of a people.
- Aspects of culture are the elements or things that make up culture.
- Aspects of culture include;

• The way people dress
• The food they eat
• Initiation rites
• Traditional songs and dances
• Traditional education
• Burials and funerals

Age groups and age sets

- An age group is a group of young people who were born almost at the same time.
- Two or more age groups form an age set.
- Members of the same age set regarded each other like brothers.
- They did not marry each other's sisters.
- They helped one another during difficult times.
- Married women belonged to the age-set of their husbands.

Clan

- A clan is a group of people who share a common ancestor.
- Clan members respected each other.
- They did marry each other.

Functions of a clan

1. Settling disputes among clan members.
2. Protecting its members from external attacks.
3. Allocating land to clan members.
4. Planning and conducting marriage and initiation ceremonies.
5. Educating the youth to become responsible members of the society.

School and Community

Role of school to community
- The school employs members of the community to support staff.
- The school gives school facilities such as furniture, field, halls.
- The school educates children from the community to become responsible members of the community.
- The school promotes culture of the community through games, sports, music and drama festivals.
- The school provides facilities to the community like school bus.

Role of the community to the school

- The community donates land where the school is built.
- The community provides workers to the school.
- The community provides children to the school.
- The community helps the school in contributing to its physical development.