Harold E. Lambert
Encyclopedia
Harold E. Lambert OBE
(1893–1967) was a British
linguist and anthropologist in Kenya
.
Born in Pield Heath, raised in Bournemouth
, and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
(1912–1915), Lambert served as a platoon commander in the Gloucestershire Regiment during World War I
, and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. A year later, the young Lieutenant
joined the King's African Rifles
in Nyassaland in the East African Campaign
against the German army in Tanganyika.
After his demobilization in 1919, Lambert remained in East Africa and was appointed assistant District Commissioner on the southern coast of Kenya. During this period, he studied Swahili
history and culture, becoming fluent in the language. Gaining indigenous respect and recognition, he became known as "Sheikh Lambert." His subsequent postings were as District Commissioner in Kiambu
, Lamu
, Embu, Kenya
, Voi
, and other places, where he gained an "outstanding" reputation as an administrator known for his "profound" knowledge of indigenous law and culture (especially Kikuyu). In 1939, the British Governor of Kenya successfully nominated Lambert as an Officer in the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) and promoted him to Senior District Commissioner.
Lambert was married to Grace Firr, a trained nurse and daughter of Tom Firr, a famous Huntsman of the Quorn Hunt
. After his retirement in 1950, the couple settled in Nairobi. He remained very active as a Swahili language scholar until his death in Nairobi, 1967. Many Africanists, anthropologists and linguists greatly benefited from H.E. Lambert's expert knowledge and generous assistance in the field and in their subsequent research.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1893–1967) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
linguist and anthropologist in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Born in Pield Heath, raised in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
(1912–1915), Lambert served as a platoon commander in the Gloucestershire Regiment during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. A year later, the young Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
joined the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
in Nyassaland in the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War I)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles and guerrilla actions which started in German East Africa and ultimately affected portions of Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The campaign was effectively ended in November 1917...
against the German army in Tanganyika.
After his demobilization in 1919, Lambert remained in East Africa and was appointed assistant District Commissioner on the southern coast of Kenya. During this period, he studied Swahili
Swahili people
The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group and culture found in East Africa, mainly in the coastal regions and the islands of Kenya, Tanzania and north Mozambique. According to JoshuaProject, the Swahili number in at around 1,328,000. The name Swahili is derived from the Arabic word Sawahil,...
history and culture, becoming fluent in the language. Gaining indigenous respect and recognition, he became known as "Sheikh Lambert." His subsequent postings were as District Commissioner in Kiambu
Kiambu
Kiambu is a town in Central Province, Kenya. It is located at around , in the elevation of about 1,720 m. It has an urban population of 13,814. It is the capital of the Kiambu District, which bounds the northern border of Nairobi...
, Lamu
Lamu
-Threats to Lamu:In a 2010 report titled Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, Global Heritage Fund identified Lamu as one of 12 worldwide sites most "On the Verge" of irreparable loss and damage, citing insufficient management and development pressure as primary causes.- See also :* Juma and the Magic...
, Embu, Kenya
Embu, Kenya
Embu is a town located approximately northeast of Nairobi towards Mount Kenya. Embu serves as the provincial headquarters of Eastern Province in Kenya and is also the district headquarters of Embu District. Located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, the town of Embu has a population of...
, Voi
Voi
Voi is a market town in southern Kenya, lying on the edge of the Tsavo National Park. It lies at the junction of the railway lines from Nairobi to Mombasa and Taveta. Also the Voi Sisal Estates are located near the town. Voi is also located near some Taita villages like, Ikanga and...
, and other places, where he gained an "outstanding" reputation as an administrator known for his "profound" knowledge of indigenous law and culture (especially Kikuyu). In 1939, the British Governor of Kenya successfully nominated Lambert as an Officer in the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) and promoted him to Senior District Commissioner.
Lambert was married to Grace Firr, a trained nurse and daughter of Tom Firr, a famous Huntsman of the Quorn Hunt
Quorn Hunt
The Quorn Hunt, usually called The Quorn, established 1696, is one of the world's oldest fox hunting packs and claims to be the United Kingdom's most famous hunt...
. After his retirement in 1950, the couple settled in Nairobi. He remained very active as a Swahili language scholar until his death in Nairobi, 1967. Many Africanists, anthropologists and linguists greatly benefited from H.E. Lambert's expert knowledge and generous assistance in the field and in their subsequent research.
Selected publications
- The Use of Indigenous Authorities in Tribal Administration: Studies of the Meru in Kenya Colony. (1947, Cape Town: School of African Studies, University of Cape Town, Communications, New Series, No.16)
- Land Tenure Among the Akamba. (1947, African Studies, Vol. 6(4), pp. 131 – 147, 157 - 175)
- The Work of an African Chief. (Nairobi 1948)
- The Systems of Land Tenure in the Kikuyu Land Unit. (Cape Town, 1949)
- The Background to Mau Mau: widespread use of secret oaths in Kenya. (1952)
- Kikuyu Social and Political Institutions. (Oxford U Press, 1956)
- Chi-Chifundi: A Dialect of the Southern Kenya Coast. (Kampala, 1956)
- Ki-Vumba: A Dialect of the Southern Kenya Coast. (Kampala, 1957)
- Chi-Jomvu and ki-Ngare: Subdialects of the Mombasa Area. (Kampala, 1958)
- Wimbo wa kiEbrania. (Arusha, 1959)
Sources
- Obituaries. 1967. East African Standard, 30: v: 8; Swahili Vol.37 (2):125.
- Frankl, P.J.L. 1999. "H.E. Lambert (1893-1967): Swahili Scholar of Eminence (being a short biography together with a bibliography of his published work." In Journal of African Cultural Studies 12 (1):47-53.
- Murray, Jocelyn. 1976. "The Church Missionary Society and the 'Female Circumcision' Issue in Kenya, 1929-1932. Journal of Religion in Africa. Vol.8:92-104.