Kuria

Kuria kids


Two of the Kuria Bible translators

The Kuria people live in both Kenya and Tanzania. There are a bit over 600,000 total, 435,000 of which live in Tanzania. This makes them the most populous group in Mara Region.

The Kuria are part of the Mara Cluster in a different way than the other nine people groups. Thanks to the hard work of the Bible Society of Tanzania, they already have the entire New Testament (published in 1996) and translators are making progress on the Old Testament. The JESUS Film has already been produced in the Kuria language and there are even some audio Scriptures available. However, not much literacy work has been done. The Bible is available, but people don't know how to read their own language! And while Scriptures are readily at hand, there is a great need for practical Scripture use work. So while the Mara Cluster won't be translating the Bible into Kuria, it will be involved in literacy and Scripture use work among the Kuria people.

Historically, the Kuria were pastorialists living in what is now Kenya. When the Luo people (a Nilotic tribe) began pushing the Kuria south and the Maasai people started pressing in on them from the east, the Kuria ended up fractured and scattered. What had been one large tribe formed two smaller tribes (the Gusii, who are in Kenya) and the Kuria (mostly in Tanzania, some in Kenya). Being confined to a smaller land area and facing attacks from the Luo and Maasai, their pastoral life became more limited and many Kuria, particularly those in Kenya, took up agricultural life.

There are often issues with cattle theft between the Kuria and other groups. While tensions aren't always high between the Kuria and other people groups in Mara Region, they are certainly present. The Ikoma in particular have a long history of problems with the Kuria. The other people groups in the area look down on the Kuria as being agressive hunters and a bit "behind the times" since many still practice a pastoral lifestyle in the bush. Across the country, the Kuria have a negative reputation as fierce, violent people. They are known to be good soldiers in the military, though!

There are a variety of churches in the Kuria area. As with the other people groups in the region, there is a mixture of Christians, Muslims, and those who follow traditional religion. While the Kuria are not considered unreached, they have a great need for good biblical teaching and stronger churches.