Discover

(Redirected from Kikuyu)
:''There is also a town in Kiambu district called Kikuyu, and a species of Pennisetum grass native to the Kenyan highlands named kikuyu.''

The 'Kikuyu' ('Gîkûyû') are Kenya's most populous ethnic group. 'Kikuyu' is the anglicised form of the proper name and pronunciation of Gîkûyû although they refer to themselves as the Agikûyû people. They total about 5,347,000 (1994 I. Larsen BTL)^[1], equal to about 22% of Kenya's total population^[2]. They cultivate the fertile central highlands and are also the most economically active ethnic group in Kenya.

Contents

Origins

History

Anti-colonialism

Post-independence

Language

Religion

Social structure

Selected Literature

List of prominent kikuyus

Notes

External links

Origins

Although uncertain, ethnologists believe the Gîkûyû came to Kenya from West Africa (present day Cameroon) together with the other Bantu tribes. On reaching what is now Tanzania, they moved east past Mount Kilimanjaro and into Kenya, finally settling around Mount Kenya, while the rest of the group continued migrating to Southern Africa (to become present-day Zulus, Shonas, etc.) They were originally hunter-gatherers but unlike the Nilotic tribes who were pastoralists, they began farming the very fertile volcanic land around Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Range.
However, Gîkûyû legends have it that in the beginning, a man called Gîkûyû and his "helper" or wife called Mumbi were placed on Mount Kirinyaga by God, Mwene Nyaga or Ngai. It was said that they were placed near the Mugumo or Fig tree upon the slopes of the mountain. They were to give birth to Nine daughters named, Wanjiku, Wanjiru, Wanjeri, Wambui, Wangari, Wacera, Waithera, Wairimu and Wangui. It so happened that when they were grown up, they met nine young men from a distant land, (ostensibly Maasai, with whom Gîkûyûs have a long standing love-hate relationship) who married the girls and from whom the Gîkûyû nation arose. A popular myth claims that when Gîkûyû's daughters came of marrying age, Gîkûyû prayed to Mwene Nyaga to provide husbands for their daughters whom he duly provided by a fig tree.

History

The Gîkûyû were generally on good terms with the Maasai – their neighbours, with whom they traded extensively. Colonialism, however, disturbed this order. Beginning in the 1880s, the British settled first on the coast and then in Nairobi, when building the railroad from the coast to Lake Victoria which travels into the neighbouring country Uganda. They confiscated land from the Gîkûyû, who were confined to a small reserve, unable to cultivate their land.

Anti-colonialism

Gîkûyû political organisation grew rapidly in the 1920s as a response to social problems, land loss and colonial pressures. One moderately radical group, the Kikuyu Central Association, was established in the 1920s under the leadership of young, mission-educated members including Jomo Kenyatta. Frustrations, anti-colonialism and internal divisions contributed to the Mau Mau uprising after World War 2, fought amongst the Gîkûyû central highlands from roughly 1952-1958. This divisive, dirty and violent war was fought mainly by guerillas in central Kenyan forests, including Dedan Kimathi among its leaders. Following massive detentions by the British and huge numbers of Gîkûyû deaths - mostly from internal fighting - the Mau Mau was a major contributor to moves for Kenyan independence.

Post-independence

Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, was a Gîkûyû. Kenya's third president is also a Gîkûyû named Mwai Kibaki who won the 2002 elections in a landslide against Uhuru Kenyatta, son of the first president, despite outgoing president Daniel Arap Moi's support for Kenyatta. Wangari Maathai, Africa's first female Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a Gîkûyû, as is the famous Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o, who now writes exclusively in Gîkûyû and Swahili. John Githongo, the former anti-graft advisor to the president, now since 2005 self-exiled in Britain, is a Gîkûyû.
Famous Gîkûyû sports stars include:
Julius Kariuki, the 3,000m steeplechase 1988 olympic champion; John Ngugi, 5,000m 1988 Olympic champion;
Douglas Wakiihuri, a Nagoya and London Marathon Champion; Catherine Ndereba, the Boston and Chicago marathon champion and Charles Kamathi, the 2001 world champion at 10,000m.
The Gîkûyû have continued to play vital roles in independent Kenya's political and economic development. However, it is not uncommon to hear negative commentaries in the local media of the involvement of Gîkûyûs in government affairs.
In the Gîkûyû land there is a very diverse history of how people lived. One is the form of entertainment in those days. The Gîkûyû young women and men could travel to isolated areas for dance and feasting. Most of the songs they used to dance to are in generation revival in modern bars and clubs. The discipline however was observed and no man was supposed to touch a lady sexually. The young men only enjoyed the dance and they had the chance to mingle with the beautiful young ladies who would eventually become their suitors.
The common dances were Nguchu, Nduumo, mugoiyo and ndachi ya irua (circumcisional dance). The grandmothers had a critical role of checking if any man unwound the inner garment of the young ladies. This garment was called muthuru. The grandmothers or cucus, tied it safely to protect any promiscuity in young women. Any women who engaged in sex before marriage affairs, and got pregnant could only be married as a second wife and they were commonly referred to as Gichokio. Therefore the Gîkûyû customs protected the interests of young people against abuse. It also ensured some form of entertainment was prepared and young people carried forward the practices from generation to generation.
The most memorable men in the early Gîkûyû history were Wangombe Wa Ihuura who killed a man-eating leopard with his bare hands. The other man was Wamugumo. This man could sink to the bare earth a 3/4 height of traditional Gîkûyû hunting spear. His eating habits were hilarious. In other words he was a giant sized man compared with ordinary and legendary Gîkûyû people.

Language

Kikuyu speak Gîkûyû, a Bantu language, as their native tongue. Additionally, many speak Swahili and English as well, the national and official languages of Kenya repectively.
The Gîkûyûs are closely related to the Embu, Mbeere and Meru people who also live around Mt. Kenya. The Gîkûyû from the greater Kiambu and Murang'a districts commonly referred to as the Kabete subtribe of the Gîkûyû's is closely related to the Maasai due to intermarriege prior to colonization.
Hence the Sub Tribes that retain much of the original Gîkûyû heritage reside further up Mt. Kenya, namely the Kirinyaga and Nyeri Regions of Kenya

Religion

(NOTE: This section describes spiritual practices of the Gîkûyû in the pre-colonial period. Modern Gĩkũyũs are predominantly Christian)
The Gîkûyû religion is monotheistic. According to legend, Ngai (''The Provider'' or ''The One Who Distributes'', the creator worshipped also by the Maasai and Kamba), resides atop Kîrînyaga, known as Mount Kenya.[1] According to tradition, Ngai created the land and gave it to the people, creating an inseparable bond between man and land. Other important aspects of Gîkûyû tradition include the value of ancestry and the forest. In present day, 73% are identified as Christian [2], causing a decline in 'traditional' beliefs.
The name Kîrînyaga is composed of two Gîkûyû words - ''kîrî'', meaning 'the one with', and ''nyaga'', meaning ''ostrich'' (referring to the mountain's semblance to an ostrich, with its white snowcap and black volcanic rock body); thus, the full name ''Kîrîma (mountain) Kîrînyaga'' means ''the mountain with the ostrich''. British colonialists were not able to pronounce the name Kîrînyaga, which they corrupted as Kenya.
The first British "explorer" who "discovered" the mountain was escorted by a porter from the Kamba tribe, neighbours to the Gîkûyû. When the man marveled at the mountain, pointing at it, the Kamba porter responded "Kiima Kii- nyaa". Now, Kambas do not have the "r" and "g" in their alphabet, hence this porter could not pronounce correctly "Kîrî-nyaga". The British explorer heard "Kee-Nyaa" and recorded it as such. Eventually the country was named after the main landmark of central Kenya.
Ngai is sometimes called Mwene-Nyaga, or ''owner of the ostrich.''

Social structure

There was also religious Gîkûyû prophet called Mugo wa Kibiru who prophesied the coming of the Europeans many years before they arrived in the coast lines. It was said that there will come people of a different native, having the color of Kiuura kya marigu-ini "frog of the banana plantation". This depicts something close to the native white color. He also predicted the arrival of aeroplanes, "like butterflies in the sky".
The Gîkûyû tribe had a patriarchal revolution during the reign of Wangu Wa Makeeri. This lady held meetings seated on a man's back. According to one version, the revolution took place when Gîkûyû men organized to have all the women dance naked in a Kibaaata dance. The women refused and the Gîkûyû men took the rule to themselves. In another, the men synchronized copulation such that all fertile women fell pregnant around the same time. This made them vulnerable and unable to carry out leadership duties.
The Gîkûyû man is referred to as a muthuuri (meaning someone who can choose or discern evil from good) and woman called a mutumia (meaning someone who retains family secrets and practices) lived in a traditional huts. These huts had a very interesting way of controlling temperatures. During cold season they would be very warm. In hot season the hut would be cool. The hut for the man who would have several wives was called Thingira. Here the man would call his kids for lectures on family norms and he would also call his wives for serious family discussions.
In ordinary days the man would invite his age mates of his riika(age group) to a horn/ruhia of traditional beer (Njoohi) called muratina,an alcoholic drink made from sugar cane and the muratina fruit.
The Gîkûyû had a very deep way of controlling the age gaps in their children. A father would only get another child to the same wife, after the mother sent the kid to look after the goats a practice called (Guthii ruuru). Ruuru is a collection of goats and sheep or commonly referred as herding.
The other interesting practice was the practice of sharing wives. Today it's called swinging. Then it was called kuithiya. The owner of the thingira would raise into song once he neared his homestead after a drinking ceremony. This would serve as an alert to any stranger in the homestead and he would then disappear into the darkness safely. This practice was allowed to break curses and inheritable genes in a family line.
Colonisation eroded many practices and values although the language evolves into the future. Many Gîkûyû have moved from their traditional homeland to other parts of the world through intermarriages, business opportunities, fields of study, seeking better prospects in life, etc. Those living in rural areas tend to continue to practice farming.
Many Gîkûyû have, however, moved to the cities to find jobs.

Selected Literature

★ Lonsdale, John, and Berman, Bruce. 1992. ''Unhappy Valley: conflict in Kenya and Africa''. (J Currey Press)

★ Lonsdale, John, and Atieno Odhiambo, E.S. (eds.) 2003. ''Mau Mau and Nationhood: arms, authority and narration''. (J. Currey Press)

★ Lambert, H.E. 1956. ''Kikuyu Social and Political Institutions''. (Oxford U Press)

List of prominent kikuyus

'Politics & Freedom Fighting'

★ Jomo Kenyatta 1st President

★ Mwai Kibaki 3rd President

★ Dedan Kimathi Field Marshall

★ Wangari Maathai Nobel Laureate

★ Dr Josephat Karanja Former Vice President

★ Bildad Kaggia

★ Josiah Kariuki

★ General China

★ Stanley Mathenge

★ Kenneth Matiba

★ Charles Rubia

★ Harry Thuku

★ Uhuru Kenyatta Official Leader of Opposition
'Investement Banking'

★ John Gikonyo SC, Director, Central Bank of Kenya

★ Prof Njuguna Ndung'u Governor, Central of Bank of Kenya

★ David Njoroge Board Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank

★ David Wachira MD, Consolidated Bank of Kenya

★ Gideon Muriuki MD, Co-operative Bank

★ Jimnah Mbaru Nairobi Stock Exchange Chairman

★ James Mwangi MD, Equity Bank

★ T Wainaina MD, Family Finance Building Society Ltd.

★ James Macharia MD, National Industrial Credit Bank Ltd.

★ Muthoni Kuria MD, Southern Credit Banking Corp. Ltd

★ Frank Ireri MD, Housing Finance Ltd.

★ Eunice Mbogo MD, Kenya Reinsurance Coproration Ltd.

★ Nelius Kariuki Kenya Re Chairperson (and first woman to ring the bell at the Nairobi Stock Exchange).
'Academia'

★ Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano First PhD in Kenya

★ Joesph Barage Wanjui Chancellor, University of Nairobi

★ Prof.Olive Mugenda Chancellor, Kenyatta University (first female elected to that position)

★ Prof.Nick Wanjohi Chancellor, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology

★ Prof.Ngugi wa Thiongo Literary Scholar
'Constitutional & Justice Affairs'

★ Sir Charles Njonjo Former Attorney General

★ Evan Gicheru Chief Justice

★ Paul Muite SC, Idealist Advocate

★ Dr Gibson Kamau Kuira SC, Jurist

★ Martha Karua Minister for Justice & Constitutional Affairs

★ Maina Kiai Chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
'Others'

★ Gerald Mahinda CEO, East African Breweries Limited

★ John Ngugi

★ Catherine Ndereba Athlete

★ James Macharia Athlete

★ Meja Mwangi

★ Erastus Mureithi Chairman, Kenya Flower Council

★ Amos Kimunya Chairman of Muithaiga Country Club and Finance Minister

★ George Muhoho MD, Kenya Airports Authority

★ Matere Keriri Chairman, Electricity Regulatory Board

★ Eddy Njoroge KenGen MD

★ Ms. Betty Maina CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers

★ W. D. Kiboro CEO, Nation Media Group

★ Mbiyu Koinange Kiambu Mafia

★ Senior Chief Koinange

★ Senior Chief Waruhiu

★ Waiyaki wa Hinga Baron of Dagoretti

★ John Gakuo Famed Nairobi Town Clerk

★ Dick Waithaka Mayor of Nairobi

★ Andrew Ngumba Former MP and former Mayor of Nairobi

★ Beth Mugo MP

★ Margaret Kenyatta Former Mayor of Nairobi

★ Rose Waruhiu EAC MP

★ Peter Kiguta Director General, Customs and Trade, EAC

★ Joseph Kamotho of the "Baba na Mama" fame

★ Prof Kinuthia George Saitoti Minister for Education

★ Chris Murungaru

★ John Githongo

★ Alice Wahome Captain, Nyali Golf Club

★ Mutahi Kagwe Minister for Inforamtion and Communications

★ Michae Waweru Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority

★ Lt. Gen. Julius Waweru Karangi Vice Chief of General Staff

★ Lt. Gen. Augustin Karanu Njoroge Commander, Kenya Army

★ Mama Ngina Kenyatta First Lady

★ Lucy Kibaki First Lady

★ Mary Wambui Political Activist

★ Njenga Karume Defence Minister

★ John Njoroge Michuki Internal Security Minister and Owner of Windsor Golf & Country Club

★ Cecilia Mwangi Miss World Kenya

★ Robert Njoya Mbugua, Alleged Poacher killed by Thomas P. G. Cholmondeley

★ George Thuo City Hoppa Owner

★ Catherine Gicheru Investigative Journalist

★ Alex Mureithi BBC Reporter

★ Gladys Njoroge CNN & BBC Reporter

★ Benson Wanjau aka Ojwang' Hatari

★ David Waweru MD, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

★ G.G. Kariuki - MP, Assistant minister

★ Eric Wainana Musician

★ David Mathenge aka "Nameless"

★ Lenson Njuki aka "Mr Lenny"

Notes

1. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=kik Accessed 2007/07/09
2. CIA Factbook figures retrieved on May 28 2007

External links

★ ''Kayû ka muingi Kameme FM Listen Live''

★ ''Mûûgî nî mûtaare''

★ Language''

★ Names''

★ ''Kikuyu.com''

★ ''Kikuyu origin''