To the east and south of Mountain Kenya, are the peoples (and their languages) of Bantu subgroup. These are the Kikuyu, Kamba, Segeju, Embu, Chuka, Tharaka, Mwiimbi, Imenti, Tigania, and others. The languages and cultures or these groups are similar but not identical.
Location
Kikuyu are the largest branch of Bantu groups. They settled south of Mount Kenya and highlands of central Kenya, in a triangle bounded by Nyeri, Murang'a, and Nairobi. During the 19th century, they spread from this region into many other areas of southern Kenya, putting them into conflict with many neighboring tribes such as Masai, Kalenjin and others.
History
The Kikuyu tribe was originally formed by a man known as Gikuyu. However Kikuyu tradition believes that in the beginning there was a Kikuyu deity, known as Ngai, who took Gikuyu to the top of Kirinyaga and told him to stay and build his home there. He was also given a wife, Mumbi. Together, Mumbi and Gikuyu had nine daughters. There was actually a tenth daughter but the Kikuyu considered it to be bad luck to say the number ten. When counting they used to say "full nine" instead of ten. It was from the nine daughters that the nine (occaisionally a tenth) Kikuyu clans -Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angare, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga, and Aitherandu- were formed.
In colonial times the Kikuyu attempted to drive the British out of Kenya by forming the Mau-Mau rebellion. Although the revolt was unsuccessful, they struggled for Kenya's independence and were eventually successful.
Social Organization
In this culture, both men and women agree that males are supposed to be the head of the household and make most decisions in a wide range of domains, as well as control all major resources, deciding on its distribution and disposal. Women are viewed as having control in areas like which subsistence crops to plant and disciplining small and school age daughters. Baptizing of children and deciding when to send a child to school is a joint responsibility of both males and females.
Language
Kikuyu is the second most widely spoken East African local language. It is not only spoken by the Kikuyu but also learned as a second or third language by many non-Kikuyu people who live in Nairobi and surrounding areas of central Kenya. This language is understood by most of other Kenyan Bantu groups. It is a language of commerce (used by traders or used in trading) and transportation.
Notable People of Kikuyu
The first president of Kenya known as Jomo Kenyatta is from Kikuyu
The third and current president of Kenya known as Mwai Kibaki is also a Kikuyu
Africa's first female Nobel peace prize winner known as Wangari Maathai is a Kikuyu.
Kikuyu sports stars:
Ø Julius Kariuki won the 3000m steeple chase 1988 Olympics
Ø John Ngugi won the 5000m Olympics in 1988
Ø Charles Kimathi, won the 10000m Olympics in 2001
Economy
Their economy consists of subsistence farming, cash cropping and rearing European breeds of dairy cattle. Examples of cash crops include tea, coffee and so many others. It is mainly women who practice the agriculture. Men look for office jobs, teach and set up other small businesses.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Kikuyu.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
If you are a Kikuyu, your feedback is much appreciated.
Sources
Abbott, Susan
1974 Full-Time and Week-End Wives: An Analysis of Altering Conjugal Roles. Pp.20
Bennett, Patrick R.; and others
1985 Gikuyu ni Kiogire: A First Course in Kikuyu. 3: Essays, Texts, and Glossaries. Linguistic and Cultural Materials Pp.492
jcfeser
http://everything2.com/e2node/Kikuyu retrieved on 02/28/09
“The Kikuyu People of Kenya” http://www.calebproject.org/obj21.htm (25 March 2000)
“Kikuyu” http://www.kenyaweb.com/people/kikuyu.html (25 March 2000)
“People: Kikuyu” http://www.blissites.com/kenya/people/kikuyu.html
Written by Esther Nalubwama, 2009