Wameru

Last updated
Meru
Bundesarchiv Bild 105-DOA0481, Deutsch-Ostafrika, Urwald am Meru.jpg
Total population
2,000,000
Regions with significant populations
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania (Arumeru District, Arusha Region), Kenya
Languages
Rwo
Religion
Related ethnic groups
People of the Kamba people of Kenya, Oromo people of Ethiopia
PersonMmeru
PeopleWameru
LanguageKimeru

The Meru (Wameru in Swahili), also known as the Va-Rwa (Rwa being the root word), are a Bantu ethnic group native to the slopes of Mount Meru in Arusha Region and Meru County in Kenya. The Meru people share the same name and identity with the Meru people of Kenya.

The Meru people are said to have arrived to the slopes of the great mountain around 800 years ago coming from the mount Kenya . According to the inhabitants, migration occurred back and forth throughout the region, and the Meru people should be viewed as a part of the bigger population inhabiting the entire Arumeru District. Upon arriving at the southeastern slopes of Mount Meru they were met by the hunter-gatherer group called the Koningo whom they absorbed into Meru society. The wa Meru are known for their intensive livestock keeper. [1]

Today many descendants of Meru people still live in their homeland and Mount Meru and Arumeru District are named in their honor. Upepo wa kisulisuli is named after UMALEE in meru language.

Related Research Articles

Meru may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arusha</span> City of Arusha Region in Tanzania

Arusha City is a Tanzanian city, with a population of 617,631, and the regional capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 2,356,255.

Meru is a town in eastern Kenya. It is the headquarters of the Meru County, and the seventh largest urban centre in the country. Meru urban center has a population of 80,191 residents (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaga people</span> Ethnic group from Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania

The Chagga are a Nilotic ethnic group from Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania and Arusha Region of Tanzania. They are the third-largest ethnic group in Tanzania. They historically lived in sovereign Chagga states on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in both Kilimanjaro Region and eastern Arusha Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Meru (Tanzania)</span> Dormant stratovolcano in Arusha Region, Tanzania

Mount Meru is a dormant stratovolcano located 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Kilimanjaro in southeast Arusha Region, Tanzania. At a height of 4,562.13 metres (14,968 ft), it is visible from Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the fifth-highest of the highest mountain peaks of Africa, dependent on definition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arusha Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Arusha Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions and is located in the northeast of the country. The region's capital and largest city is the city of Arusha. The region is bordered by Kajiado County and Narok County in Kenya to the north, the Kilimanjaro Region to the east, the Manyara and Singida Regions to the south, and the Mara and Simiyu regions to the west. Arusha Region is home to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is comparable in size to the combined land and water areas of the state of Maryland in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meru people</span> Kenyan ethnic group

The Meru or Amîîrú are a Bantu ethnic group that inhabit the Meru region of Kenya. The region is situated on the fertile lands of the north and eastern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arusha City Council, Arusha</span> District of Arusha Region, Tanzania

Arusha City Council is one of seven administrative districts of Arusha Region in Tanzania. It is surrounded to the south, west and north by Arusha Rural District and to east by Meru District. The district covers an area of 267.0 km2 (103.1 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Cayman Islands. The district capital is the city of Arusha. As of 1994, Arusha District was the wealthiest district in Tanzania. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha Urban District was 617,631.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arumeru District</span> Former District in Arusha Region, Tanzania

Arumeru District is a former district in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It was bordered to the north, west, and southwest by Monduli District, to the southeast by the city of Arusha, and to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usa River, Meru District, Arusha</span> Ward of Meru District, Arusha Region

Usa River also known locally as Ussa is an administrative ward of the Meru District in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is the seat of Meru District. To the north and west, the ward is surrounded by the wards of Nkoaranga, Poli, and Seela Sing'isi. To the south and east, respectively, are the wards of Kikwe and Maroroni, and Maji ya Chai. As of 2012, Usa River ward had a population of 23,437.

The Rwa or Meru sometimes Rwo are a Bantu ethnic and linguistic group based on the south and eastern slopes of Mount Meru in Meru District of the Arusha Region of Tanzania, the Rwa population is estimated to number 198,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arusha people</span> Tanzanian ethnic group

The Arusha people are a Bantu ethnic and indigenous group based in the western slopes of mount Meru in Arusha District of Arusha Region in Tanzania. The Maasai regard the Arusha people as related as they were once a part of the immigrant Maasai whom arrived in Arusha in the late 18th century from Kenya. The Arusha people are not to be confused by Arusha residents who are a mix of people of different ethnic backgrounds that are born and reside within the borders of the Arusha Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embu people</span> Kenyan ethnic group

The Embu or Aembu are a Bantu people indigenous to Embu county. The region is situated on the southern slopes of the former Eastern province. They belong to the northeastern Bantu branch and speak the Embu language known as Kiembu as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family. Kimeru, Kikuyu, and Kikamba share similar language characteristics. To the west, Embu neighbours are the closely related Kikuyu in Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kiambu, Muranga and Nyandarua counties. The Meru people border the Embu to the East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meru District, Arusha</span> District of Arusha Region, Tanzania

Meru District, officially the Meru District Council is one of seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania.The District is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Siha and Hai Districts of Kilimanjaro Region, to the south by Simanjiro District of Manyara Region, and to the west by Arusha Rural District and Arusha Urban District. It covers an area of 1,266 km2 (489 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Faroe Islands. Meru District has an max elevation of 3,800 m (12,500 ft) at Rhino Point on Mount Meru. The administrative capital of the district is Usa River. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Meru District council was 331,603.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tanzania</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tanzania

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tanzania:

Musa is an administrative ward in the Arumeru district of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The district and ward were dissolved in 2007 becoming parts of the Arusha and Meru districts.

The Koningo are an extinct Tanzanian ethnic and linguistic group that lived on the slopes of Mount Meru in present day Arusha City District, Meru District and Arusha District of Arusha Region. They were described as a hunter-gatherer society that preexisted the Wameru people in the 17th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arusha District Council, Arusha</span> District of Arusha in Arusha Region, Tanzania

Arusha District or Arusha District Council is one of the seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The district is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Meru District, to the south by Kilimanjaro Region, and to the west by Monduli District. the district surrounds Arusha City on all three sides. The district covers an area of 1,547.6 km2 (597.5 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Guadeloupe. The district capital is located in Sokon II. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha District was 449,518.

<i>Encyocratella</i> Genus of spiders

Encyocratella is a monotypic genus of Tanzanian tarantulas containing the single species, Encyocratella olivacea, also known as the Tanzanian black and olive baboon spider. It was first described by Embrik Strand in 1907, and is found in Tanzania.

The Murutu people were a community that, according to the oral literature of the Meru people of Kenya, inhabited regions of the Swahili coast and the Kenyan hinterland at various times in history.

References

  1. Fosbrooke, Henry. "waMeru People". Arusha Integrated Regional Development Plan. p. 5. Retrieved 2016-09-17.