kikuyu culture and traditions
After she agrees to be married, a series of events will follow. The Kikuyu follow many traditions in their life style. Customarily, marriage proceedings often began with the man proposing to the woman. The Kikuyu traditional wedding, for instance, is one of a kind characterised by the Kikuyu traditions such as dances, attires, and other traditional rituals. The foods served in a Kikuyu traditional wedding vary from one family to another. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The first humans who were created by God have the strongest vital force because they got it directly from God." Before 1888 and well into the 1920s, Kikuyu music included Kibaata, Nduumo and Muthunguci. Tuesday, 16 April 2013. The Kikuyu culture is a well known cultural group that is predominantly found in the central highlands of Kenya. Open it and you will see the book is dedicated to the Kikuyu god Ngai and to the fig tree itself. All traditional Kikuyu religion was based off of their god, Ngai. THE TABOOS IN THE KIKUYU COMMUNITY. Some of the Kikuyu believe more in Christianity due to missionaries during colonization (Pateman, Robert: 26). Circumcision among the Kikuyu. From the Traditional Music and Cultures of Kenya, a multimedia encyclopaedia dedicated to all Kenyan tribes, including music and dance, history, culture, society, religion and beliefs, rituals and daily life, fables, legends, riddles and proverbs. Otherwise the Kikuyu don't really celebrate any other holidays unless they have a different religion ( Kikuyu People 2014). kikuyu culture & traditions Kenya is famous for its 42 cultures, but other than the nomadic Maasai and Samburu, not many of these are widely known to the outside world. Learning the roots, traditions and customs of the Kikuyu tribe form research and authors of different books and most importantly from the old men and women of the Kikuyu tribe. The dishes served are nutritious and tasty. Mt. Kikuyu Resources and Books on History, Culture, Heritage & Architecture. In the beginning matriarchal rule prevailed. Many people today have focused on the circumcision ceremony, irua, reducing it to a discussion of the surgical cut. The bride to be approaches her paren A warm welcome to Kikuyuland’s Kikuyu Resources and Books Page. For a religious ceremony both boy and girl have to be circumcised, but now Economy the clan of Mumbi. Some of the foods you may be served at the ceremony include black peas, green peas and stew, and mukimo — a dish made from combining maize, potatoes, pumpkin leaves, and beans. The Kikuyu believed that Mt. Kenya was chosen to be where they would live since they believe that their god Ngai resides there. If a man has sexual intercourse with an animal, that’s a great taboo. Painted on the door are the Ten Commandments. As part of observing their cultural traditions, here are some things that the Kikuyus still do to date; 1.Mukimo Mukimo is a traditional Kikuyu diet made of maize, potatoes and pumpkin leaves. For instance, some Kikuyu still honor some traditional superstitions such as a taboo against whistling. Mythically, the nation of the Agĩkũyũ came from two original parents who were created by God, namely Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi. Mother tongue of Kikuyu people is Bantu Kikuyu language. While they were there small sacrifices like animals and food were bestowed upon Ngai, and the sacrifice had to take place under a sycamore tree (Kikuyu People 2014). Intro by Flo Gathonee- https://www.instagram.com/swahili_pop/Hi, I'm Kitt Nyang'aya Kiarie. It is a tool for social control that also provides manpower for public duties. The riika system among the Agĩkũyũ acts as cultural vehicle. For a religious ceremony both boy and girl have to be circumcised, but now the girls don't since Kenya finds it to be against their laws. Behind the door is a Bible. In the olden days, tribes such as the Kikuyu, Meru, Masai and Samburu circumcised both boys and girls. Dating back centuries, the stories and traditions of the peoples of Kenya are some of the most fascinating in the world. Approx 17% of Population of kenya is Kikuyu people. Kikuyu culture is the Kikuyu tribe’s way of life, the largest ethnic group of the Kenya people. Other traditions include seasonal harvest festivals. The Kikuyu traditionally were superstitious and today they retain some practices of traditions held over from the old times. Routledge, writing in the early 1900’s noted that all the Kikuyu clans in his locality took their male children through a ceremony that re-enacted a birth. The great traditional Gikuyu initiation ceremonies, Mambura, that ushered a new generation of youth into adulthood ready for marriage involved many processes of which the circumcision of the genital organs is the most famous. Today, Music and Dance are strong components of Kikuyu culture. This is known as the healing ceremony in the Kikuyu culture. Before 1888 and well into the 1920s, Kikuyu music included Kibaata, Nduumo and Muthunguci. Mbura ya Kimera is just a celebration for rejoice. The carcass ,… Kikuyu Traditions Kikuyu story-telling Stories - whether true accounts of historical events, or amusing and far-fetched tales of giants and ogres, or fables involving animals, were crucial to a child's education. The basis of this religion is that the first Kikuyu were created by Ngai and were named Gikuy for a sycamore tree and Mumbi for a companion of the tree. The People of Kikuyu The Kikuyu People are the biggest ethnic group in the East African country with a population of about 6,623,000 which makes up 23% of Kenya’s total population. It is a testament to the depth these trees were rooted in Kikuyu culture that they have withstood more than a century of religious proselytization. These books are either available for free in the public domain, libraries or on sale in bookshops and eCommerce websites (like Amazon). Cultural loss increased as urbanization and modernization impacted on indigenous knowledge, including the ability to play the mũtũrĩrũ – an oblique bark flute. Log in, Teso Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Kalenjin Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Meru Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Kisii Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Turkana Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Samburu Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Luhya Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions, Maasai Tribe, People, Language, Culture and Traditions (Masai), Kũmenya muciĩ (getting to know the bride’s home in two low-key visits). Initiation in Kenya culture and traditions Many tribes in Kenya give high value to coming of age rituals which are mostly signified by circumcision. The hooves of the the ram are eight as each leg has a pair. But our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures. Kikuyu society was organized according to several principles: descent, territoriality, age. The kikuyu man is referred to as “Muthuri” (meaning someone who can choose or discern evil from good) and the kikuyu woman is Mutumia (meaning someone who retains family secrets and practice) among the kikuyu marriage rendered a man an elder, a dowry was a must pay to the family of the bride. The largest of Kenya’s tribes, the Kikuyu tribe live in area around Mount Kenya where Kũhanda ithĩgĩ (planting a branch of a tree – to open the way for actual dowry negotiations and during which the Kũonorwo mĩtĩ takes place) – may take place on the same day as Kũracia. Thank you for visiting this page and your interest in learning the Kikuyu Culture. THE ORIGIN OF THE KIKUYU TRIBE The Kikuyu refer to themselves as Mbari ya Mumbi i.e. Ngai is said to have given a spirit to everything in the Universe, so everything they see is believed to have a soul since it is connected to Ngai. Nyumba nene thaai,reke tucoke mbara nginyo tuite mwenenyaga nigetha atukure kuma king'uki giki gia corona.kirinyaga thaai,kia nyandarwa thaai,kiri mbiruiru thaai,kia njahi thaai,ngomi thaai,mahiu maitu thaai,aciari thaai,ciana thaai,njamba ciitu thaai Everything created by God retains a bond from God (Creator) to the created. Kikuyu people: Ceremony of the second birth. The actual point at which the Kikuyu became a separate and independent people with their own and unique sense of identity is fairly clearly stated in oral tradition, which says that the founder of the Kikuyu was a man named Gikuyu. To be considered a true Kikuyu man they have to be circumcised. A new cultural centre devoted to the Kikuyu, Kenya’s largest offers a unique experience of this tradition rich culture existing in a modern world. Magetha ma Mwere is the season of harvesting. Kũguraria / gutinia kiande (the traditional kikuyu wedding) – may be replaced with a Christian Church wedding. 34 years old, professional infant and toddler sleep coach. Traditional Kikuyu music has existed for generations up to 1888, when the Agikuyu people encountered and adopted a new culture from the Europeans. The women began to tyrannize the men who revolted successfully. The Kikuyus are great people with very dynamic culture, and we bet you’d love to know more about them. On this page, you will find many Kikuyu resources (books, thesis, and … Kikuyus historically adhered to indigenous faiths, but most of them are Christians today. Religion. Along with their religion there are some old rules like ". Mibura ya njahi is the season of big rain and the black bean harvest. The word Gĩkũyũ means ‘a huge sycomore tree. There are still some traditional beliefs and customs widely practiced by the Kikuyu today. This is evidenced in the food, language, and marriage rituals among others. 1. According to tradition, Kikuyu and Moombi had nine daughters, ancestors of the main clans. If they were put together they are complete as a circular container, womb made of old and new, mother and child. Two take place each year with two other types of festivals. Learning the roots, traditions and customs of the Kikuyu tribe form research and authors of different books and most importantly from the old men and women of the Kikuyu tribe. The traditional belief was that this would call malicious spirits. This article looks at Kikuyu people of Kenya funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. Updated 12 April 2012. Much of their history has been passed on from generation to generation in the form of songs and stories. The Kikuyu are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. The sycamore tree is considered to be where they came from. Kũracia or Rũracio (actual dowry payment which lasts a lifetime and not paid in full), Kũonio itara (the lady getting to see where firewood was stored in the traditional kitchen; which is a visit to the Groom’s homestead). The old calabash of the primal birth and a new calabash signified the split between the new life and the old. From the Traditional Music and Cultures of Kenya, a multimedia encyclopaedia dedicated to all Kenyan tribes, including music and dance, history, culture, society, religion and beliefs, rituals and daily life, fables, legends, riddles and proverbs. Other parts of the series are about Danish funeral traditions and Haitian funeral traditions, among others. Initiation ceremony in the Kikuyu culture. Friday, 22 March 2013. (14) 1.6 Ecology (natural environment): 1.7 Population size, mean village size, home range size, density: 7,180,000 and increasing (3) 2. I will try to describe the practices and traditions regarding how a Kikuyu goat was eaten from the little I know. That is why undermining the riika standards through evil attitudes, misconduct, malevolent mentality and contempt is believed to attract a serious curse. Kikuyu culture. Below is a list of recommended books on Kikuyu people’s way of life, history, and culture both in the past and present. Feel free to correct, argue and insert the missing info NOTE: Whenever a goat is slaughtered for whatever occasion there are some traditions that are followed during its preparation and consumption. The main rafters holding up the Kikuyu cone roof were always eight. Kenya also known as Mount Kirinyaga is a sacred mountain and Ngai is the ultimate creator. However, before you get to the big day, there are procedures that must be followed in Kikuyu tradition. Today, music and dance are strong components of Kikuyu culture. Traditional religion and beliefs of the Kikuyu. The man could marry as many wives as he could afford, polygamy was determined by the wealth one … Mbura ya Mwere is the short rain season festival.