Gusii people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,703,235 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kenya | |
| Languages | |
| Ekegusii, Swahili and English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Traditional Beliefs, Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Abakuria, Ameru, Embu, Kikuyu, Mbeere, Kipsigis, Maasai,Ngurimi, Zanaki,Ikoma,Rangi, Mbugwe,Simbiti, Maragoli, Jita, and Suba people (Kenya) |
| Gusii/Kossova | |
|---|---|
| Person | Omogusii/Omokossova |
| People | Abagusii/Abakossova |
| Language | Ekegusii/Egekossova |
| Country | Gusii/Kossova |
The Gusii people or Abagusii (also known as Kisii in Swahili) are a Bantu speaking ethnic group indigenous to Kisii and Nyamira counties of former Nyanza, as well as parts of Kericho and Bomet counties of the former Rift Valley province of Kenya.
They speak Ekegusii, classified among the Great Lakes Bantu languages and generally grouped with northeast Bantu-speaking populations. Recent studies, however, note that Ekegusii, along with Kuria, Simbiti, Ngurimi, Rangi, and Mbugwe, is structurally distinct from other Bantu languages, particularly in tense usage.
They are noted for their soapstone sculptures, called chigware.