Kikuyu

Kikuyu, Bantu-speaking people, numbering about 6 million, forming the largest tribal group in Kenya. The Kikuyu live in the highlands NE of Nairobi. Before the British conquest they were the most influential people in the country. During the 1950s, under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, the Kikuyu fought the British colonialists in what was known as the Mau Mau Emergency. Although the Kikuyu traditionally lived in separate family homesteads, most were moved into villages during the rebellion. After the removal of the colonists, a large number chose to remain in the villages. The Kikuyu economy centers mainly around agriculture, with little or no hunting or fishing.

or Gikuyu

Bantu-speaking people who live in the highland area of south-central Kenya, near Mount Kenya. Numbering some six million, they are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. They traditionally lived in separate domestic family homesteads, but during the Mau Mau rebellion the British colonial government moved them into villages for security purposes, and this arrangement became permanent. Their traditional economy rested on intensive hoe cultivation of millet and other crops; the main modern cash crops are coffee, corn, and fruits and vegetables. Many Kikuyu serve in government posts.

Learn more about Kikuyu with a free trial on Britannica.com.

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

Origins

Although uncertain, ethnologists believe the Kikuyu came to Kenya from West Africa together with the other Bantu groups. On reaching present 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 . 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 Kenyan highlands.

However, Kikuyu legends have it that in the beginning, a man called Kikuyu and his "helper" or wife called Mireia (Mũmbi) were placed on Mũkũrwe wa Nyagathanga in present day Mũrang'a District 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, Wanjikũ, Wanjirũ, Njeri, Wambũi, Wangari, Wacera, Waithera, Wairimũ and Wangũi. It so happened that when they were grown up, they met nine young men from a distant land, (ostensibly Maasai, with whom Kikuyu's have a long standing love-hate relationship) who married the girls and from whom the Kikuyu nation arose. A popular myth claims that when Kikuyu's daughters came of marrying age, Kikuyu prayed to Mwene Nyaga to provide husbands for their daughters whom he duly provided by a fig tree.

History

The Kikuyu 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 Kikuyu, who were confined to a small reserve, unable to cultivate their land.

Anti-colonialism

Kikuyu 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 (KCA), 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 II, fought amongst the Kikuyu 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 Kikuyu deaths - mostly from internal fighting - the Mau Mau was a major contributor to moves for Kenyan independence. By the end of the rebellion, the British had taken the lives of over 11,000 rebels and detained around 100,000 people under force - in contrast with 200 Europeans and 2,000 Britain-loyal Africans. This is considered to be the first great African liberation movement and probably the most grave crisis of Britain's African colonies.

A scene in the 1987 movie The Kitchen Toto, about the Mau Mau uprising, shows a white police chief ordering Kikuyu police officers out of the force, suspecting them of working for the Mau Mau.

Post-independence

Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, was a Kikuyu. Kenya's third and current president, Mwai Kibaki is also a Kikuyu. Kibaki 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 Kikuyu, as is the famous Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o, who now writes exclusively in Kikuyu and Swahili. John Githongo, the former anti-graft advisor to the president, now since 2005 self-exiled in Britain, is a Kikuyu.

Famous Kikuyu 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 Kikuyu 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 Kikuyus in government affairs.

Language

Kikuyu speak Kikuyu, a Bantu language, as their native tongue. Additionally, many speak Swahili and English as well, the national and official languages of Kenya respectively. The Kikuyu are closely related to the Embu, Mbeere and Meru people who also live around Mt. Kenya. The Kikuyu from the greater Kiambu (commonly referred to as the Kabete) and Nyeri districts are closely related to the Maasai due to intermarriage prior to colonization, being geographical neighbours. Hence the sub-tribes that retain much of the original Kikuyu heritage reside around Kirinyaga and Murang'a regions of Kenya. The Kikuyu from Murang'a district are considered to be more pure, believed to be the cradle of the Kikuyu people.

Religion

The 'traditional' Kikuyu 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 Kĩrĩnyaga, known as Mount Kenya. 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 Kikuyu tradition include the value of ancestry and the forest. In present day, 73% are identified as Christian, causing a decline in their 'traditional' beliefs.

The name Kĩrĩnyaga is composed of two Kikuyu words - kĩrĩ, 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 Kĩrĩma (mountain) Kĩrĩnyaga means the mountain with the ostrich/ the mountain of mystery (the more likely translation).

Ngai is also called Mwene-Nyaga, or Holder of mystery. Nyaga means mystery as well as ostrich Kikuyus main town is Nyeri.

Social structure

According to folklore, the Kikuyu tribe was ruled based on a matriarchal system. During the rule of Wangũ wa Makeeri, a leader who was said to be so fierce she held meetings seated on the backs of men, the men decided to revolt and take over leadership. (Although modern Kikuyu often assume that Wangu was a mythical character, she was in fact one of the first "chiefs" installed by the British at the end of the 19th Century in Murang'a District as a result of her liaison with a more well-known "chief" Karuri wa Gakure.) One version of the story says that the revolution took place when Kikuyu men organized to have all the women dance naked in a Kĩbaata dance. The women refused and the Kikuyu men took the rule to themselves. In another version, the men conspired to make all the women pregnant at the same time. This made them vulnerable and unable to carry out leadership duties. The men then took over leadership- and never let go.

Family Life

The Kikuyu man is referred to as a mũthuuri (meaning someone who can choose or discern evil from good) and the Kikuyu woman is called a mũtumia (meaning someone who retains family secrets and practices). Traditionally, Kikuyu society is polygamous so that any man with means could have as many wives as he could afford.

The family lived in a homestead with several huts for different family members. These huts were constructed so that during the cold season the interior would be very warm while in hot season the hut would be cool. The husband’s hut was called ‘thingira’, and that was where the husband would call his children in for instruction on family norms and traditions and he would also call his wives for serious family discussions. Each wife had her own hut where she and her children slept. After boys were circumcised (at puberty) they moved out of their mother’s hut into the young men’s hut.

The husband would invite his age-mates of his riika (age group) to a horn (rũhĩa) of traditional beer (njoohi) called mũratina; an alcoholic drink made from sugar cane and the mũratina fruit.

The Kikuyu had a systematic method of family planning. A father would only have another child with his wife, after her youngest child was at an age where the mother could send them to look after the family’s herd of goats, a practice called (gũthiĩ rũũru). Rũũru is a collection of goats and sheep or commonly referred as herding.

Culture

Colonization eroded many traditional practices and values, although the language has survived and continues to evolve. Many Kikuyu have moved from their traditional homeland to the cities to find jobs. They have also moved to other parts of the country and the world due to intermarriage, business opportunities, study, and generally seeking better prospects in life. Those living in rural areas tend to continue to practice farming.

In the Kikuyu land there is a very diverse history of how people lived. One is the form of entertainment in those days. The Kikuyu young women and men could travel to isolated areas for dance and feasting. 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. Many of the songs they used to dance to are being revived in modern bars and clubs.

The common dances were Nguchu, Nduumo, Mũgoiyo, Gĩchukia 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 mũthuru. The grandmothers (macũcũ), tied it safely to protect any promiscuity in young women. Women who engaged in sex before marriage, affairs, or got pregnant could only be married as a second wife and were commonly referred to as ‘Gĩchokio’. Therefore the Kikuyu customs valued the chastity of unmarried women and protected young women against abuse. It also ensured some form of entertainment was prepared and young people carried forward the practices from generation to generation.

Legends

A religious Kikuyu prophet called Cege wa Kibiru or Mugo wa Kĩbirũ prophesied about the coming of the Europeans long before they arrived at the Coast. It was said that there would come people from a different land, having the colour of kiũũra kya marigũ-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". Two of the other memorable men in the Kikuyu history were Wang’ombe wa Ihũũra and Wamũgumo. Wang’ombe wa Ihũũra killed a man-eating leopard with his bare hands. Wamũgumo could sink 3/4 of traditional a hunting spear to the bare earth. He was a giant sized man whose size and eating habits were legendary. Waiyaki Wa Hinga was another Kikuyu paramount chief, who was credited as among the first to resist the entrechment of the White settlers in the Kikuyu land. When confronting one white settler in the settler's tent, Waiyaki's sword got caught in the tent's roof as he raised it to strike. He was quickly overpowered, severely beaten, and buried alive in Kismayu.

List of prominent Kikuyu people

Politicians & Freedom Fighters

• Waiyaki wa Hinga, Paramount Chief and Freedom fighter
• Jomo Kenyatta, 1st President (considered founding father of Kenya)
• Mbiyu Koinange, 1st Kenyan to attain Bachelor and Masters degrees
• Mwai Kibaki, 3rd President
• Eliud Mathu, First Kenyan in the colonial parliament (Legco)
• Kenneth Matiba, Former MP, Leader of Official Opposition, youngest Permanent Secretary.
• Dedan Kimathi, Field Marshall
• Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate
• Josephat Karanja, Former Vice President
• Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (J.M. Kariuki), Former Member of Parliament Nyandarua
• Waruhiu Itote aka (General China)
• Charles Rubia, Former Member of Parliament and Political Activist
• Harry Thuku, Freedom Fighter and Independence Hero
• Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Former Official Leader of Opposition
• Amos Kimunya, Former Finance Minister and Chairman of Muthaiga Country Club
• Mutahi Kagwe, Former Minister for Information and Communications
• Martha Karua, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
• John Njoroge Michuki, Minister of Environment and Mineral Resources, Minister of Finance, Former Minister of Roads, Former Internal Security Minister and owner of Windsor Golf & Country Club
• Charles Mugane Njonjo, Former Attorney General and Minister for Constitutional Affairs
• Gakaara Wa Wanjaũ, Mau Mau Freedom fighter and author
• Henry Muoria, Journalist and nationalist
• Koigi wa Wamwere, Author and politician

Others

• Ngina Kenyatta (Mama Ngina), Former First Lady, Uhuru Kenyatta's Mother
• Lucy Kibaki, First Lady
• Ngugi wa Thiongo, literary scholar
• Micere Githae-Mugo, Poet
• Binyavanga Wainaina, Author
• John Ngugi, athlete
• Catherine Ndereba, athlete
• James Macharia, athlete
• Meja Mwangi, Author
• Chris Murungaru, Politician, Former Security Minister
• John Githongo, runnaway bureaucrat
• Mugo Gatheru, journalist, professor, author
• Njenga Karume, prominent businessman
• Tabitha Kanogo, Historian
• Ruth Kagia, Seniormost ranking Kenyan in the WorldBank
• John Kiarii, Comedian
• Mary Wambui, political activist (alleged second wife of Mwai Kibaki)
• Eric Wainana, musician
• Nameless aka "David Mathenge", musician
• Tom Morello, Grammy Award winning guitarist well known for his tenure with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave; ranked #26 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
• Samuel Kamau Wanjiru, 1st Kenyan Olympic champion in the Marathon.

References

Selected Literature

• Elkins, Caroline, 2005. "Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya." (Henry Holt and Company, LLC)
• Kenyatta, Mzee Jomo, 1938. Facing Mount Kenya
• Wanjau, Gakaara Wa, 1988. "Mau Mau Author in Detention." Translanted by Paul Ngigi Njoroge. (Heinemann Kenya Limited)
• 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)
• Muriuki, Godfrey 1974. History of the Kikuyu 1500 - 1900. (Oxford U Press)
• Godfrey Mwakikagile, Kenya: Identity of A Nation, New Africa Press, Pretoria, South Africa, 2008; Godfrey Mwakikagile, Ethnic Politics in Kenya and Nigeria, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Huntington, New York, 2001.

External links

• Kayû ka muingi Kameme FM Listen Live
• Mûûgî nî mûtaare
• style="font-style : italic;">Gikuyu Language
• style="font-style : italic;">Kikuyu Names
• Kikuyu.com
• Kikuyu origin