Stages of a Gīkūyū Man’s Life
Posted on January 6, 2017 by
Mũkũyũ
Gakenge – A new born baby for the first few months or so. After that he is referred to as Kaana , baby. Major ceremony – Being born, gūciarwo kwa mwana.
Kahīī – A young boy floricking about like a young kid goat. major ceremony – The second Birth, gūcokia mwana ihu-iinī
Kīhīī – A big boy nearing circumcision which would be anything from 12 to 18 years. To be called a Kīhīī (Kīhīī gīkī), is an insult as it is a reference to the fact that one is due or overdue for “straightening” – nī ūtigītie handū.
Mumo – Kiumīri (sing), Literally means “coming out”, “emerging” like a butterfly from a cocoon into the full broom of God’s creation. Circumcision ceremonies – These were the most important of the Gikūyū ceremonies of becoming.
Mambura ma irua.
Mwanake – A young man until marriage. God’s material creation in its full glory. God, Ngai, did not create a child but a fully grown man. A young man is literally God’s fragment that was fashioned into a man by the creator, Mūmbi. Mwanake nī kīenyū kīa Ngai. Mwanake wa Njaama ya ita is a member of the warrior coupes, military. Mwanake wa Njaama ya kamatimū is a member of the policing and guard coupes, Police.
Mūthuuri – Karabai . Married man who can still be called upon to serve military duty in a major war.
Mūthuri wa Kīama – An elder who serves in one or more of the many Councils. Because the Gikuyu system of government had no chiefs or kings, all government was through consensus in the various tribal Councils. Some were standing Councils with a membership representing the various clans. Other Councils were constituted on demand. To be a member of a Council was through the payment of a goat to the Council and there were three levels just as there are three levels in academia today, the Bachelors Degree, The Master’s Degree and the Doctor of Philosophy, PhD. Elders do not serve in the military or police coupes.
In The Republic , Plato exp
Riu niturore makinya ma rurachio.
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The dowry payment is in a series of events, namely:
Kũmenya muciĩ (getting to know the bride’s home in low-key visits)
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.
3.Kũracia or Rũracio (actual dowry payment which lasts a lifetime and not paid in full)
4.Kũonio itara (the lady getting to see where firewood was stored in the traditional kitchen; which is a visit to the Groom’s homestead)
5.Kũguraria / gutinia kiande (the traditional kikuyu wedding)
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Ukinyitie ha wee?
Just did numero uno this past saturday, which included part of number 2.
Before the end of the year, i will do this
Kũonorwo mĩtĩ.
The wazee are pricing a goat @ ksh5,000 , and am expected to produce 99 of them. My Mother is hearing none of that, anasema mbuzi ni ksh3,000, ikizidi sana ksh3,500. What’s your take guys.
Still stuck at number 3. Napanga kumalizia June this yr.
Fanya hivi, enda Samburu na 100K utafute mbuzi 50 uwapelekee. Live ones. Wakisema hawataki live ones waambie kuna place unajua zinauzwa 1K, so its either they price the goat at 1K or they accept your live goats.