The Kenya Freedom Party ( KFP ) was a political party in Kenya.
57-665: The Kenya Freedom Party was established in February 1960 by Indians including Chanan Singh who felt that the Kenya Indian Congress (KIC) was not sufficiently supportive of independence. Calling for immediate independence and universal suffrage, in the 1961 general elections it received 0.6% of the vote, winning two of the 53 elected seats in the Legislative Council , whilst the KIC won three seats. The party allied itself with
114-471: A French physician-cum-spy named Charles Dellon. He published a book in 1687 describing his experiences, titled Relation de l'Inquisition de Goa . The remaining few Hindus who wanted to keep their Hindu religion did so, by emigrating to the neighbouring territories that continued to be ruled by Bijapur, where these Hindus again had to pay jizya tax . Ironically, the Inquisition was a compelling factor for
171-574: A close-knit, endogamous community. Following the 1982 Kenyan coup d'état attempt to remove President Moi , many Asian shops and businesses in Nairobi were attacked and pillaged. Despite fears at the time within the community, it did not result in another exodus of Asians from the country. On 22 July 2017, the Uhuru Kenyatta government announced that the Asian community would be officially recognised as
228-564: A communication medium during the 16th century. The Maratha threat was compounded by their attacks on native Catholics and destruction of local churches during their repeated attacks on Goa in the 17th century. This led the Portuguese government to initiate a positive programme for the suppression of Konkani in Goa, in order to make native Catholic Goans identify fully with the Portuguese Empire. As
285-551: A result, Konkani was suppressed and rendered unprivileged in Goa by the enforcement of Portuguese. Urged by the Franciscans , the Portuguese viceroy forbade the use of Konkani on 27 June 1684 and further decreed that within three years, the local people in general would speak the Portuguese language and use it in all their contacts and contracts made in Portuguese territories. The penalties for violation would be imprisonment. The decree
342-594: A wide range of industries. Some of Kenya's largest most prominent companies to date are controlled by Gujaratis, including Comcraft Group Manu Chandaria (Manufacturing). Kenya achieved independence from Britain in 1963 and thereafter followed a period of volatility in African and Asian relations. Asians, along with Europeans, were given two years to acquire Kenyan citizenship and surrender their British passports . Out of approximately 180,000 Asians and 42,000 Europeans in Kenya at
399-567: Is a significant Shia minority, including Ismailis ( Khoja and Bohra ) and Ithnā'ashariyyah . There are also sizeable communities of Sikhs and Jains , and smaller numbers of Roman Catholics . Konkani people The Konkani people are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent . They speak various dialects of the Konkani language . Following
456-528: Is believed that tribes of Austric origin like Kols , Mundaris , Kharvis may have settled Goa and Konkan during the Neolithic period, living on hunting, fishing and a primitive form of agriculture since 3500 BC. According to Goan historian Anant Ramakrishna Dhume , the Gauda and Kunbi and other such castes are modern descendants of ancient Mundari tribes. In his work he mentions several words of Mundari origin in
513-706: The Arabs , Turks , introduction of Jainism , patronising Shaivism , use of Sanskrit and Kannada , the overseas trade had an overwhelming impact on the people. In 1350CE, Goa was conquered by the Bahmani Sultanate of Turkic origin. However, in 1370, the Vijayanagar Empire , a resurgent Hindu empire situated at modern day Hampi , reconquered the area. The Vijayanagar rulers held on to Goa for nearly 100 years, during which its harbours were important landing places for Arabian horses on their way to Hampi to strengthen
570-460: The Bhoja kings. The Yadava Bhojas patronised Buddhism and settled many Buddhist converts of Greek and Persian origin. The Abhirs , Chalukyas , Rashtrakutas , Shilaharas ruled the then Konkan-Goa for several years which was responsible for many changes in the society. Later The powerful Kadambas of Goa , came to power. During their rule, the society underwent radical transition. Close contact with
627-638: The Chronista de Tissuary (Chronicles of Tiswadi ), the last auto da fe was held in Goa on 7 February 1773. The Inquisition was set as a tribunal, headed by an Inquisitor, sent to Goa from Portugal and was assisted by two more judges. These three judges were answerable only to the Portuguese Inquisition in Lisbon and handed down punishments according to the Inquisition Laws. The Laws filled 230 pages and
SECTION 10
#1733092555894684-535: The Homo sapiens in Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic phase i.e. 8000–6000 BC. The rock engraving in many places along the coast has proven the existence of hunter-gathers. Nothing much is known about these earliest settlers. Figures of mother goddess and many other motifs have been recovered which do not really shed light on the ancient culture and language. Traces of Shamanic religion have been found in Goa. It
741-592: The Indian subcontinent . Significant Indian migration to modern-day Kenya began following the creation of the British East Africa Protectorate in 1895, which had strong infrastructure links with Bombay in British India . Indians in Kenya predominantly live in the major urban areas of Nairobi and Mombasa , with a minority living in rural areas. According to the World Economic Forum ,
798-701: The Indo-Trinidadian writer V.S. Naipaul referring to the inward focus of the Asian community, commented that "the Indian in East Africa brought India with him and kept it inviolate". The same was said about the Europeans. Those who remained saw a gradual improvement in their legal status, however, the Asian community continued to be cautiously inward and self-reliant. Despite varying degrees of acculturation, most have retained their strong Indian ties and traditions, and are
855-562: The Kenya African National Union , and merged into it in 1963. This article about a Kenyan political party is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Indians in Kenya Modern ethnicities Diaspora Performing arts Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers Indians in Kenya , often known as Kenyan Asians , are citizens and residents of Kenya with ancestral roots in
912-587: The Konkani language agitation , Konkani became the premier official language of Goa state , while Marathi remains as the associate official language of Goa. Konkani is also spoken by populations in Karnataka , Maharashtra , Damaon , Kerala , & Gujarat . A large percentage of Konkani people are bilingual . The word Koṅkaṇa (कोंकण) and, in turn Koṅkaṇi , is derived from Kuṅkaṇa (कुङ्कण) or Kuṅkaṇu (कुङ्कणु). Different authorities elaborate etymology of this word differently. They include: Thus
969-503: The creole language Kutchi-Swahili ), Odia , Punjabi , Sindhi , and Tamil . The majority of Asians are Hindu . The leading caste-based subgroups within Kenyan Hinduism include Lohanas , Lohars , Rajput , Patels and Mehtas , among others. Their largest concentration is in Nairobi, where mandirs can be found in most neighbourhoods. The next largest community are Muslims ; the majority being Sunni Muslims, however there
1026-487: The língua de criados (language of the servants). Hindu and Catholic elites turned to Marathi and Portuguese, respectively. Ironically, Konkani is at present the 'cement' that binds all Goans across caste, religion and class and is affectionately termed Konkani Mai (Mother Konkani). Due to negative propaganda from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party , Marathi was made the official language of Goa following
1083-401: The 1920s; however, Indians, who enjoyed significantly greater economic strength than black Africans, had greater bargaining power with the colonial government. As early as 1920, they turned down the offer of two seats on the legislative council as this was not representative of the size of their community. Tensions with Europeans remained high until 1927 when Indians won the right to five seats on
1140-664: The 44th tribe in Kenya recognising the community's contribution to Kenya from the dawn of the nation. The 2019 Kenyan Census recorded 47,555 Kenyan citizens of Asian origin, while Asians without Kenyan citizenship numbered 42,972 individuals. Asian ethnic groups mostly originate from a few places in South Asia. The majority of Asians trace their ancestry to the regions of Gujarat and Punjab . There are also large numbers who originate from Maharashtra , Odisha , Goa , and Tamil Nadu . Languages spoken by Asians include Gujarati , Hindustani , Marathi , Konkani , Kutchi (as well as
1197-418: The Asian community had firmly established its dominance within the urban economy. Despite accounting for only 2 percent of the overall population, they constituted one-third of the population of Nairobi, where their businesses dominated the main street. Prior to independence Asians owned nearly three-quarters of the private non-agricultural assets in the country. The Gujarati community, in particular, thrived in
SECTION 20
#17330925558941254-488: The Asian community. The British authorities took a serious view of what they regarded as the Ghadar party's political terrorism and sentenced a number of members to death for either belonging to the party or possessing seditious material. By the early 1920s, there was a sizeable Asian population who demanded a greater role in the developing political life of what became Kenya Colony . Racial hostilities gradually intensified in
1311-639: The Deccan plateau. A wave of Kusha or Harappan people a Lothal probably around 1600 BC to escape submergence of their civilisation which thrived on sea-trade. The admixture of several cultures, customs, religions, dialects and beliefs, led to revolutionary change in the formation of early Konkani society. The Maurya era is marked with migrations from the East, advent of Buddhism and different Prakrit vernaculars. The advent of Western Satrap rulers also led to many Scythian migrations, which later gave its way to
1368-900: The East African coast, adopted a series of favourable policies towards Indians in the region. In 1887 the British East Africa Association was founded with its base in Bombay . The following year the Association was given a royal charter, becoming the Imperial British East Africa Company and moving its base to Mombasa . Although now based in Africa, the company had a strong Indian orientation, employing guards, police officers, clerks and accountants from Bombay. Significant Indian migration to modern-day Kenya began following
1425-450: The Inquisition. 57 were sentenced to death and executed in person, another 64 were burned in effigy. Of these, 105 of them were men and 16 women. The rest of those convicted were subjected to lesser punishments or penanced. Those sentenced to various punishments totaled 4,046, out of whom 3,034 were men and 1,012 were women. Seventy-one autos da fe were recorded. In the first few years alone, over 4000 people were arrested. According to
1482-516: The Konkani language. He also elaborates on the deities worshiped by the ancient tribes, their customs, methods of farming and its overall impact on modern day Konkani society. They were in a Neolithic stage of primitive culture, and they were food-gatherers rather. The tribe known as the Konkas , from whom is derived the name of the region, Kongvan or Konkan with the other mentioned tribes formed reportedly
1539-725: The Konkanis as Āmcigelo / Āmcigelī . This literally means our tongue or people speaking our tongue . Though this is not common amongst the Goans , they normally refer to Konkani as Āmgelī bhās or our language . Sometimes Āmgele can be used in the Goan context to mean people from my community . Many of the colonial documents mention them as the Concanees , Canarians , Concanies . The prehistoric region consisting of Modern Goa and some parts of Konkan adjoining Goa were inhabited by
1596-610: The Portuguese as they had been for the Arabs. By the early part of the 19th century, small numbers of Indian merchants could be found settled across the trading posts of East Africa. Their interests were enhanced when Said bin Sultan the Sultan of Muscat and Oman , subjected to the emergence of British naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean and direct British political support for Indian merchants along
1653-598: The Vijaynagar cavalry. In 1469, however, Goa was reconquered, by the Bahmani Sultans . When this dynasty broke up in 1492, Goa became a part of Adil Shah's Bijapur Sultanate , who made Goa Velha their second capital. The Portuguese conquest of Goa occurred in 1510 under the leadership of Afonso de Albuquerque and with the assistance of the local Hindus led by Timoji . The Christianisation of Goa and its simultaneous Lusitanisation soon followed. The Goa Inquisition
1710-585: The backing of wealthy businessmen Allidina Visram and the Jevanjee brothers, and became the first political organisation in the protectorate to represent the interests of Asians. Regional branches later emerged, including in Nairobi in 1906 which soon became more influential than the Mombasa association. To co-ordinate the aims of the different branches, the British East Africa Indian Association
1767-475: The coast of east Africa in the late 15th century. In Malindi he obtained the service of a Gujarati speaking sailor to navigate ships across the Indian Ocean to Calicut . The Portuguese soon came to monopolise trade across the Indian Ocean and displace the existing Arab commercial dominance in the region. Although this affected India's commerce with East Africa, Indians were the accountants and bankers for
Kenya Freedom Party - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-434: The community, in 1970, 70% of the economically active Asian population consisted of wage and salary earners, and 30% worked for the civil service. A policy of Africanisation meant many were sacked in favour of black Africans. The Kenyan Immigration Act 1967 required Asians to acquire work permits, whilst a Trade Licensing Act passed in the same year limited the areas of the country in which non-Kenyans could engage in trade. In
1881-496: The council, compared to eleven reserved for the Europeans. Both parties prevented any African representation. After the Second World War , Asians were found in all occupations in Nairobi and the townships: in business, the police force, bureaucracy, and the professions. Their commercial skills contributed to the economic development and prosperity of Kenya and the rest of East Africa. The 1950s saw increased sentiment against
1938-624: The creation of the East Africa Protectorate in 1895. The Protectorate took over the assets and personnel of the Imperial British East Africa Company and hence its Indian orientation. The rupee was instituted as the currency of the Protectorate and the legal system became an extension of Indian law. Initially, British officials envisioned developing Kenya as the "America of the Hindu", considering Indians as sub-imperialist agents of civilisation in
1995-607: The earliest form of Prakrit or Vedic Sanskrit vernacular. This migration of the northerners is mainly attributed to the drying up of the Sarasvati River in Northern India . Many historians claim only Gaud Saraswat Brahmins and few of the other Brahmins to be their descendants. This hypothesis is not authoritative according to some. Balakrishna Dattaram Kamat Satoskar a renowned Goan Indologist and historian, in his work Gomantak prakruti ani sanskruti , Volume I explains that
2052-409: The earliest settlers in the territory. Agriculture was not fully developed at this stage, and was just shaping up. The Kols and Mundaris might have been using stone and wood implements as iron implements were used by the megalithic tribes as late as 1200 BC. The Kol tribe is believed to have migrated from Gujarat . During this period worship of mother goddess in the form of anthill or Santer ,
2109-476: The emigration of some Portuguese immigrant soldiers who, although raised Roman Catholic, wanted to lead a Hindu-style way of life with multiple native Hindu concubines. These men went on to seek their fortunes as mercenaries in the courts of different Indian kings, where their services were employed usually as gunners or cavalrymen. Konkani language had originally been studied and Roman Konkani promoted by Catholic missionaries in Goa (e.g. Thomas Stephens ) as
2166-512: The greatest advocates of Konkani, were expelled from Goa by the Marquis of Pombal in 1761. In 1812, the Archbishop decreed that children should be prohibited from speaking Konkani in schools. In 1847, this rule was extended to seminaries. In 1869, Konkani was completely banned in schools until Portugal became a Republic in 1910. The result of this linguistic displacement was that Konkani in Goa became
2223-422: The inequalities of colonial rule, and many Asians were at the forefront of the push for increased rights. These included: Pio Gama Pinto , founder of the Kenya African National Union newspaper, Makhan Singh who is regarded as laying the foundations of Kenyan trade unionism, and A.R. Kapila and Fitz de Souza known in the legal profession for their representation of those accused of Mau Mau links. By 1962,
2280-512: The late 1960s and early 1970s, faced with a dim future in Africa, many Asians choose to utilise their British passports and settle in the United Kingdom. Consequently, the Asian population in Kenya declined from 179,000 in 1962 to 139,000 in 1969 and to 78,000 in 1979. Asian migrants to the United Kingdom settled mainly in the English cities of London and Leicester . Visiting Kenya in the 1970s,
2337-491: The name Konkani , comes from the word Konkaṇ , which means the people of Konkan . In general, in Konkani the masculine form used to address a Konkani speaker is Koṅkaṇo and the feminine form is Koṅkaṇe . The plural form is Konkane or Konkani . In Goa Konkano now refers only to Hindus, and Konkani Catholics do not address themselves as Konkanos as they were banned by the Portuguese from referring to themselves this way. Saraswat Brahmins of Canara refer to
Kenya Freedom Party - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-512: The new town of Nairobi which from 1905 became the capital of the British protectorate, and where, unlike black Africans, Asians were permitted to reside legally. One of the most significant early pioneers was A. M. Jeevanjee . In 1890 his company A.M. Jeevanjee of Karachi was awarded the contract to supply labour for the building of the Uganda railway, and he subsequently went on to establish himself as
2451-457: The original Sarasvat tribe consisted of people of all the folds who followed the Vedic fourfold system and not just Brahmins , as the caste system was not fully developed then, and did not play an important role.(see Gomantak prakruti ani sanskruti , Volume I). The second wave of Indo-Aryans occurred sometime between 1700 and 1450 BC . This second wave migration was accompanied by Dravidians from
2508-587: The palace where the Inquisition was conducted was known as the Big House and the Inquisition proceedings were always conducted behind closed shutters and closed doors, to prevent outside interference while the accused was being interrogated. In 1567, the campaign of destroying temples in Bardez was completed after the majority of the local Hindus had converted to Christianity. At the end of it, 300 Hindu temples were destroyed. Laws were enacted from 4 December 1567 prohibiting
2565-535: The population of Indians in Kenya numbered around 100,000 in 2015. In 2017, Indians were recognised by the Government of Kenya as the nation's 44th tribe . In Kenya, the word Asian usually refers specifically to people of South Asian ancestry. Prior to the partition of India in 1947, those of South Asian ancestry were referred to as Indians; however after 1947 the term Asian also started being used. Vasco da Gama recorded encountering Indian merchants along
2622-549: The pre-eminent Asian businessman in the new colony. He established Kenya's first newspaper now known as The Standard in 1901 and was the first non-white to be elected to the Legislative Council in 1910. Such was his success that in 1904 it was estimated that he owned half of Mombasa and the greater part of Nairobi. In 1900 the Mombasa Indian Association was established on the initiative of L.M Savle, and with
2679-458: The public performance of Hindu rituals such as marriages, sacred thread wearing and cremation. All persons above 15 years of age were compelled to listen to Christian preaching, failing which they were punished. In 1583, Hindu temples at Assolna and Cuncolim were also destroyed by the Portuguese after the majority of the locals had converted. One person convicted by the Goa Inquisition was
2736-491: The region. Among the local Indian ethnic populace, the vast majority of administrative roles were filled by Konkani Goans , Parsis and Gujaratis , whilst the ranks of the British officered police and army mainly consisted of Punjabis . Between 1896 and 1901, some 32,000 indentured labourers were recruited from India to construct the Uganda railway . The principal recruiting centre was Lahore , where coolies were engaged from
2793-508: The same village or caste. Asian settlers were soon joined by European farmers , who from 1902 onward were given large tracts of land in the White Highlands . The cooler Highlands, seen as more suitable for European settlement were reserved by the government for the sole occupation of Europeans. Asian exclusion from these favourable lands caused friction between Asians and Europeans which would last for decades. Many Asians instead settled in
2850-529: The surrounding villages and sent to Karachi in special trains to catch specially chartered steamers of the British India Steam Navigation Company . Construction of the railway was a remarkable engineering feat; however, approximately 2,500 labourers died during construction (about four deaths for each mile of track laid) and the project was notorious for the Tsavo maneaters . Once the railway
2907-402: The time, fewer than 20,000 had submitted their applications by the deadline. This, in turn, led to growing animosity and distrust from Africans. They considered those who failed to take up Kenyan citizenship as being disloyal. Those without Kenyan citizenship soon became subject to increasing discrimination by the ruling government, led by Jomo Kenyatta . Despite the entrepreneurial success of
SECTION 50
#17330925558942964-422: Was completed, some of these labourers voluntarily settled in the Protectorate and brought families from India. The railway opened the interior to trade, and many soon began migrating away from the coastal cities. Over the following years, large numbers of Gujaratis and Punjabis migrated freely seeking to utilise new economic possibilities in the Protectorate. These migrants often came with family members or members of
3021-606: Was confirmed by the king on 17 March 1687. However, according to the Inquisitor António Amaral Coutinho's letter to the Portuguese monarch João V in 1731, these draconian measures were unsuccessful. The fall of the "Province of the North" (which included Bassein , Chaul and Salsette ) in 1739 led to the suppression of Konkani gaining new strength. On 21 November 1745, the Archbishop of Goa, Lourenço de Santa Maria e Melo ( O.F.M. ), decreed that fluency in Portuguese
3078-605: Was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774 to 1778, and finally abolished in 1812. Its main aim was to investigate New Christians for heresy , and to preserve the Catholic faith. Crypto-Jews who emigrated to Goa from the Iberian Peninsula to escape the Spanish Inquisition and the Portuguese Inquisition , were the main cause behind the launch of the Goa Inquisition. Some 16,202 persons were brought to trial by
3135-603: Was formed in 1907, however it soon became representative of only local interests and remained relatively unimportant. In 1914 the East African Indian National Congress was established in Mombasa and was modelled on the Indian National Congress . During the First World War the militant anti-imperialist Ghadar Party established a branch in East Africa, and attracted support from a number of
3192-459: Was mandatory for the Goan applicants to the priesthood, and also for all their immediate relatives (men as well as women). This language fluency would be confirmed via rigorous examinations by ordained priests. Furthermore, the Bamonns and Chardos were required to learn Portuguese within six months, failing which they would be denied the right to marriage. The Jesuits , who had historically been
3249-443: Was started. Anthill is called as Roen (Konkani:रोयण), this word has been derived from the Austric word Rono meaning with holes. The later Indo-Aryan and Dravidian settlers also adopted anthill worship, which was translated to Santara in Prakrit by them. The first wave of Vedic people came and settled from Northern India in then Konkan region. Some of them might have been followers of Vedic religion . They were known to speak
#893106