page_title: Kamwe language
section_title: People
hierarchical_section_title: Kamwe language / People
caption_attribution_description: English: A group of students Dancing the kamwe cultural dance at Adamawa state university, Mubi, This is an image with the theme "Play" from: Nigeria
context_page_description: Kamwe also spelt Kamue is a Chadic language spoken in Adamawa State, Borno State of Nigeria and in North Western Cameroon.
  The Kamwe people and language are sometimes called higi. Kamwe elders say "higgi" is an insult and a derogatory word coined from "hagyi" and name scornfully tagged on the Kamwe by their neighbours the Margi, that literally means "grasshopper". Majority of the Kamwe people despise the derogatory name 'higgi'. Because grasshopper from which the derogatory word "higi/higgi is derived is a hopeless insect in Kamwe culture eaten by lizards and frogs because they are weak and vulnerable
  Kamwe is a compound word derived from the words "Ka" and "Mwe" Which means "People of". Kamwe stands for people of the same consanguinity and affinity. It means family kindred. Relatives bound together. It derived its meaning from a special type of native Kamwe ornament worn by close relatives of a deceased person.
  Elders say that in the past, a non-relatives of the Kamwe were not allowed to were the Mwe. Because the "Mwe" is the true identity of close relatives and cements the bond between. If a non-relatives the Mwe, it does lead to a conflict.
context_section_description: Most Kamwe identify themselves with Mwe-ci-ka (Michika), the ancestral home of all Kamwe people.
  The name Mwecika(Michika) is a Nkafa phrase which means creeping in silently to hunt. Depicting how Kwada Kwakaa the warrior was moving stealthily on the Michika hills to hunt his games.  
  Kamwe literally means people of the same "consanguinity and affinity". The Kamwe people believe in a heavenly God called 'Hyalatamwe' Communication with Hyalatamwe directly is not possible in Kamwe culture. Hyalatamwe is revered and feared. Communication with him has to be through intermediaries called "Da melie or Tchehye shwa" 
  In the Kamwe culture, caste system does exist as the Kamwe race is broadly classified into 'Melie and Ka-Ligyi'.
  The founder of Michika (Mwe-ci-ka) was said to be one Kwada Kwakaa, a prince from Kuli in Nkafamiya on the hills of Michika. Kwada Kwakaa was said to be a warrior hunter who could hunt lions and leopards just by himself.  When his father, who was the King in Nkafamiya, got to know that Kwada was 'kwa' 'kaa',{{}} he mandated Kwada to be the ruler in the present day Michika.
  What is unique about the Kamwe people's culture is the way the name their children according to the child's birth from the mother. A first-born male child is named Tizhe, a first-born female child Kuve. The first ten children in Kamwe culture are named as follows:- First male child is Tizhe, the female child is Kuve. The second male child is Zira, the female is Masi. The third male child is Tumba, the female is Kwarramba, the fourth male child is Vandi, the female is Kwanye. The fifth child is Kwaji whether male or female. The sixth child is Tari for male and Kwata for female. The seventh child is sini for male and Kwasini for female. The eight child is Kwada for both male and Female. The ninth child is Drambi for both the male and female. The tenth child is called Kwatri for both the male and female child. Subsequently, any other child will have a suffix "hale" attached to the name signifying that the child was born in old age of the mother. Example is Kuve-hale or Zira-hale as the case may be.
  Twins or multiple births are celebrated in Kamwe culture. Twins have special names depending on the gender and who is delivered first.
  First male twin is called Thakma, the second male twin is Pembi.
  First female twin is Thakma, second female twin is Kwalgha
  
  Before the advent of Western legal system in Africa and especially Nigeria, the Kamwe People had an organised legal system of the King called "Mbege" as the sole adjudicator. Adjudication in Kamwe Language is called "Kita".
  To enhance cultural renaissance in Kamweland, annual cultural festival tagged "Kamwe People Annual Cultural Festival of Art and Culture has been staged in Michika Adamawa State Nigeria every First (1st) Saturday in the month of April every year since 2017. It is aimed at reviving the rich culture of the Kamwe people and attracts tourists from far and near.
  During the maiden edition in 2017, a book tilted the 'Kamwe People of Northern Nigeria: Origin, History and Culture was presented to the public.
caption: Kamwe cultural dancers.
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