# Degere

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Mijikenda-speaking ethnic group of Kenya and Tanzania

The **Degere** are a [Mijikenda](/source/Mijikenda_language)-speaking group of former [hunter-gatherers](/source/Hunter-gatherer) of Kenya and Tanzania, now settled along the [Ramisi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramisi_River&action=edit&redlink=1), [Mwena](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mwena_River&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Umba](/source/Umba_River_(Tanzania)) rivers, with a few along the coast. They may number no more than a few hundred to at most a few thousand. They are believed to be related to, possibly descended from, the [Oromo](/source/Oromo_language)-speaking [Waata](/source/Waata). They are variously reported to speak [Duruma](/source/Duruma_dialect), Digo, a similar Mijikenda dialect of their own, or to speak Mijikenda with grammatical errors (such as incorrect verb tenses) much as the Waata do when they speak Mijikenda.[1]

## Language

Old Degere Native to Kenya, Tanzania Region southern Kwale District, Kenya and northern Muheza District, Tanzania Ethnicity Degere Era attested 1959[1] Language family unclassified Language codes ISO 639-3 None (mis) Glottolog dege1245

A former arrow-poison trader reported that when he visited the Degere at [Mkoseka](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mkoseka&action=edit&redlink=1) in northern Tanzania in 1959, among themselves they spoke their own language, which he said was similar to Waata. He was able, with difficulty, to recall some words and phrases, along with their Waata equivalents, and equated the language with both Waata and the language of the '[Dorobo](/source/Dorobo)' hunter-gatherers on the other side of the [Usambara Mountains](/source/Usambara_Mountains).[2] Half of the words were clearly related to Waata, though with some differences in pronunciation and meaning, but the rest were obscure and could not be identified with a known language, though this was complicated by the difficulty of recall, and possibility that errors or distortions crept in over time.

The more obscure of these words, remembered nearly 30 years later, include,[3]

- *sako* 'girl' (i.e., before having children)

- *sakaya* 'woman' (with children)

- *gobina* 'blood'

- *mada* 'meat'

- *mat̠indo* 'milk'

- *bulabula* 'bee'

Walsh (1990, 1992/1993) concludes it is possible that the former Degere language was a variety of Oromo that had been influenced by a still earlier language of theirs, or by the language of the hunter-gathering neighbors.[1] The Waata say they had a language of their own before [shifting](/source/Language_shift) to Oromo, so another possibility is that the Degere split from the Waata and traveled south, away from Oromo influence, before that shift was complete, and so retained part of that earlier language in their lexicon. [3]

The name 'Degere' is the root of the Mijikenda name, *mudegere* (sg) / *adegere* (pl), from the verb *kudegere* 'to roam', presumably reflecting their former hunter-gatherer economy. The establishment of the [Mkomazi Game Reserve](/source/Mkomazi_Game_Reserve) in Tanzania in 1951 may have accelerated their abandonment of hunting.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Walsh_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Walsh_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Walsh_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Walsh_1-3) Martin Walsh, 1992/1993. The Vuna and the Degere: Remnants and Outcasts among the Duruma and Digo of Kenya and Tanzania. *Bulletin of the International Committee on Urgent Anthropological and Ethnological Research* 34/35: 133–147.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** By this he might have been referring to [Aasax/Aramanik](/source/Asa_language). (Walsh 1990)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Walsh0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Walsh0_3-1) Martin Walsh, 1990. The Degere: Forgotten hunter-gatherers of the East African Coast. *Cambridge Anthropology* 14: 68–81.

v t e Ethnic groups in Kenya (by linguistic origin) Niger–Congo Agumba Bajuni Bravanese Chonyi Digo Embu Giriama Jibana Kamba Kikuyu Kisii Kuria Luhya Mbeere Meru Mijikenda Pokomo Samia Suba Swahili Taita Taveta Nilo-Saharan Ariaal Ateker Camus Ilchamus Kalenjin Kipsigis Lembus Okiek Tugen Kore Laikipiak Luo Girango Maasai Okiek Kinare Samburu Teso Turkana Uasin Gishu Afroasiatic Aweer Daasanach El Molo Orma Oromo Borana Oromo Gabra Rendille Somali Waata Yaaku Immigrants Asians Chinese Indians Europeans Jews Source: Population and Housing Census - Ethnic Affiliation

v t e Ethnic groups in Tanzania Arusha Arusha Datooga Hadza Meru Sonjo Maasai Dar es Salaam Swahili Zaramo Dodoma Alagwa Burunge Gogo Gorowa Rangi Sandawe Geita Sukuma Sumbwa Zinza Iringa Hehe Mbunga Ndamba Kagera Hangaza Haya Nyambo Shubi Katavi Bembe Bende Konongo Pimbwe Rungwa Kigoma Goma Ha Holoholo Jiji Manyema Tongwe Swahili Vinza Kilimanjaro Chagga Ngasa Pare Lindi Machinga Matumbi Mwera Makonde Ndonde Ngindo Swahili Manyara Akie Asa Barabaig Iraqw Kw'adza Maasai Mbugwe Mara Ikizu Ikoma Jita Kabwa Kuria Ngurimi Suba Ware Zanaki Mbeya Kimbu Nyakyusa Nyiha Safwa Sangu Morogoro Kaguru Kutu Luguru Pogolo Sagara Vidunda Mtwara Makonde Makua Maviha Swahili Mwanza Kara Kerewe Sukuma Njombe Bena Kinga Kisi Manda Pangwa Wanji Pwani Doe Kami Kwere Ndengereko Rufiji Swahili Zaramo Zigula Rukwa Fipa Lungu Mambwe Tumbuka Wanda Ruvuma Matengo Mpoto Ndendeule Ngoni Nindi Yao Shinyanga Iramba Sukuma Nyamwezi Simiyu Sukuma Singida Iramba Isanzu Nyaturu Songwe Malila Nyamwanga Ndali Lambya Tabora Nyamwezi Nyanyembe Swahili Tanga Bondei Dhaiso Mbugu Ngulu Segeju Sambaa Zigula Swahili Zanzibar & Pemba Hadimu Shirazi Swahili Immigrants White Tanzanians Chinese Tanzanians Indian Tanzanians Arabs Ugandans

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Degere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degere) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degere?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.