7 African Ethnic Groups on the Verge of Extinction Due to Land-Grabbing and Assimilation

maasai-villagersAkie People

The Akie people from the western Arusha region in Tanzania number around 5,268 and have been on the verge of extinction for decades. The Akie are similar to other hunter-gatherer groups in Kenya and Tanzania in that they are often called the derogatory term Dorobo or Wandorobo.

Their way of life is constantly under threat because their lands are being encroached upon. The shrinking hunting grounds are also caused by poaching by non-African hunters.

As their numbers decrease, so do the number of native Akie speakers. There are only a few elders who can fluently speak the native language.

mara(3)

Kisankasa People

The Kisankasa are an ethnic and linguistic group based in the Arusha and Mara regions of north Tanzania. According to estimates in 1987, the Kisankasa people number around 4,670. However, since those estimates, the Kisankasa have made a small comeback to 10,000 people. Just like the Akie, they are rare hunter-gathers.

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