Kikuyu
The Kikuyu migrated to their current location four centuries ago. This ethnic group spread fast throughout the Central Province and Kenya. Kikuyu identify their land by the surrounding mountain ranges called Kirinyaga- the shining mountain. The group came into Kenya during the Bantu migration. Kikuyu can also be associated with the Kamba, the Meru, the Embu, and the Chuka.
Kikuyu is founded by a man named Gikuyu. Kikuyu history says that their god, Ngai, took Gikuyu to the top of Mount Kirinyaga and told him to build his house there. He was then given his wife, Mumbi. Together they had nine daughters, ten actually but the Kikuyu consider saying the number ten bad luck. Instead of saying ten they say a "full nine". From the nine daughters (occasionally ten) formed the nine Kikuyu clans- Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angore, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga, and Aitherandu.
The Kikuyu rely on agriculture to grow bananas, sugarcane, arum lily, yams, beans, millet, maize, black beans, and a variety of other vegetables. They raise cattle, sheep, and goats. Cattle hides are used for bedding, sandals, and carrying straps. Sheep and goats are used for sacrifice and purification.
Boy Kikuyu and girl Kikuyu are raised differently from each other. Boys work with animals and girls work on the farm, watch siblings, and help their mother with the household chores. The family culture identity is kept by naming the first son in the family after the father's father. The second son is named after the mother's father. First born girls are named after their father's mother and the second born is named after the mother's mother. Every other child is named after the grandparents brothers and sisters from oldest to the youngest. Along with naming was the belief that the deceased grandparent's spirit, that the child was named after, would come into the new child. That Kikuyu belief is lost with the increased life-span. Generally the grandparents are alive when the child is born now.
Kikuyu are traditionally agriculture people, but lots of them are becoming more involved with buisness now. Most live on small family plots but many have also seen the opportunities in buisness and have moved to the cities. They have a desire for knowledge and believe that all children should receive a full education. Kikuyu have a spectatular reputation for money management and it's common for them to own more than one enterprise at a time.
Kikuyu is founded by a man named Gikuyu. Kikuyu history says that their god, Ngai, took Gikuyu to the top of Mount Kirinyaga and told him to build his house there. He was then given his wife, Mumbi. Together they had nine daughters, ten actually but the Kikuyu consider saying the number ten bad luck. Instead of saying ten they say a "full nine". From the nine daughters (occasionally ten) formed the nine Kikuyu clans- Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angore, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga, and Aitherandu.
The Kikuyu rely on agriculture to grow bananas, sugarcane, arum lily, yams, beans, millet, maize, black beans, and a variety of other vegetables. They raise cattle, sheep, and goats. Cattle hides are used for bedding, sandals, and carrying straps. Sheep and goats are used for sacrifice and purification.
Boy Kikuyu and girl Kikuyu are raised differently from each other. Boys work with animals and girls work on the farm, watch siblings, and help their mother with the household chores. The family culture identity is kept by naming the first son in the family after the father's father. The second son is named after the mother's father. First born girls are named after their father's mother and the second born is named after the mother's mother. Every other child is named after the grandparents brothers and sisters from oldest to the youngest. Along with naming was the belief that the deceased grandparent's spirit, that the child was named after, would come into the new child. That Kikuyu belief is lost with the increased life-span. Generally the grandparents are alive when the child is born now.
Kikuyu are traditionally agriculture people, but lots of them are becoming more involved with buisness now. Most live on small family plots but many have also seen the opportunities in buisness and have moved to the cities. They have a desire for knowledge and believe that all children should receive a full education. Kikuyu have a spectatular reputation for money management and it's common for them to own more than one enterprise at a time.
