A Phenetic Classification of Kenyan Tribes and Subtribes

Document Type

Article

Authors

E M. Winkler, University of Vienna
R R. Sokal, State University of New York

Abstract

Fifteen Kenyan tribes, Nilotic as well as Bantu speakers, were measured for 24 anthropometric variables. For one tribe, the Abaluyia,8 subtribes were studied as well. The relationships among these groups were examined by phenetic clustering and ordination techniques. Different re­sults for males and females are reconciled by means of two alternative methods: joint analyses of both data matrices and loose consensus tree techniques. Major clusters of Nilotes and Bantu are apparent but 3 Nilotic tribes persistently affiliate with the Bantu cluster. When subtribes are in­cluded, three Abaluyia subtribes (Bantu) cluster with the Nilotes. The Masai assume a deviant position in some analyses. These results are corrobo­rated by means of procrustes rotations of phenetic relations into geography.The findings are interpreted in the light of linguistic, geographic and eth- nohistoric information on these populations.

Recommended Citation

Winkler, E M. and Sokal, R R. (1987) "A Phenetic Classification of Kenyan Tribes and Subtribes," Human Biology: Vol. 59: Iss. 1, Article 11.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol59/iss1/11