Info For You Lot Giriama (Giryama) People: Kenya`S Coastal Warrior Mijikenda People
The Giriama or Giryama are agricultural in addition to hunter-gathering Bantu-speaking sub tribe of the larger Mijikenda (Nyika) ethnic grouping living along the coastal areas of Kenyan. They largely alive specifically along the Kenyan coastal areas inward the Kilifi in addition to Malind (the inland towns or Mariakani in addition to Kaloleni) district. They are flora also sparsely inward Mombasa in addition to Kwale Districts of the coast province.
Giriama people from Malindi, Republic of Kenya performing traditional dance
With the total population of over 750,00 people Giriama are alongside the largest (or the minute largest after Digo) of the Mijikenda (meaning "The Nine Tribes) Coastal people formally known as Nyika people, who are made upward of ix sub groups. The Mijikenda other sub tribes include: the Digo, the Duruma, the Chonyi, the Rabai, the Jibana, the Kauma, The Kambe in addition to the Ribe.
The Giriama were most famous for their fearless nature in addition to warfare tactics, especially their women. Giriama in addition to Kenyan heroine Mekatilili wa Menza is credited for staging "The Giriama uprising of 1913-1914" against the British colonial powers. According to Brantley, inward the curt term “The British won the state of war against the Giriama, in addition to the Giriama were forced into a stringent peace settlement”, though inward the medium term “the British authorities removed Blue Planet restrictions in addition to lightened labor demands. In this policy reversal the Giriama achieved the main goals for which they had originally fought” (1986: 152) click here:Mekatilili.pdf. Examples of Giriama names are Charo, Karisa, Kahindi, Kazungu, Katana in addition to Kitsao.
Giriama people
Who is Mekatilili wa Menza?
Me Po Ho, a prophetess close the coast, had prophesied the coming of the white men to Africa. She said that some large “white butterflies would come upward from the sea in addition to would take many changes, both expert in addition to bad”. Me Po Ho also prophesied that a immature lady would live born inward Giriama, Kenya, who would larn a dandy leader in addition to would take victory to the Giriama against a powerful enemy. This girl, named Mekatilili wa Menza, was born some 1870. Mekatilili led her people to rebel against the British byurging them to halt paying taxes in addition to working on British farms.
Mekatilili wa Menza
She was arrested on 17 Oct 1913 past times a strength of British soldiers for beingness the Giriama leader,and transported to a jail inward Kisii where she was sentenced to serve 5 years with difficult labour. She escaped from prison theater 5 months afterward on 20 Apr 1914. She in addition to her virile individual counterpart Wanje walked dorsum to Giriama over a menstruum of 3 months. Upon her render she flora that her people silent continued to endure nether the yoke of British colonialism past times beingness forced to pay taxes, spell men were forced to operate on their farms. The British focused on the fertile Blue Planet of the Giriama people in addition to organized to destroy a kaya, a sacred beach expanse that was the source of the people’s spiritual strength in addition to identity.
Mekatilili in addition to Wanje were recaptured in addition to sent dorsum to jail inward Kisii. This ignited a state of war betwixt the Giriama in addition to the British. In 1919 Mekatilili in addition to Wanje were released from prison. Mekatilili continued with her fighting spirit in addition to spoke forcefully in addition to eloquently. She urged her people to rebuild the kaya. The British allowed the people to alive inward peace in addition to freedom. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 novel council of
elders was installed, with Wanje as the leader. Mekatilili was the caput of the women elders, a wise ruler of her people
Giriama hut
Sexual partitioning of production:
Like inward most tribal cultures the men are responsible for providing nutrient in addition to protection to the family, spell the woman parent is left all domestic responsibilities.
Giriama immature lady carrying gourd, Kenya
Land tenure:
Each human places a boundary grade some his shamba or farm oft consisting of a path or marking of sticks. That human volition retain that Blue Planet for the residue of his life. He may take to larn out the Blue Planet unused, in addition to larn out for many years. If he hears of someone using his Blue Planet he may render in addition to need the cost of the Blue Planet leaving the farmer forced to pay. The bush in addition to trees (jungle) are populace domain.
Giriama human playing drum
As the far as sharing goes the Giriama people have got a real unproblematic philosophy. They believe that anyone who assist with the operate larn a portion of the harvest. If the community
Giriama drummers
Food taboos:
There are no taboo foods inward the Giriama culture. They believe inward using every business office of the beast from organs to blood. Milk is regularly enjoyed in addition to sold. The potable of alternative is a grain alcohol called tembo that is precious to their people. The Giriama fish for some of their nutrient in addition to oft usage canoes to make for certain kinds of fish. The canoes are made of hollowed out trees from the surrounding jungle.
Giriama tribe adult woman at the kitchen
Parent-offspring interactions in addition to conflict:
Parent offspring interactions must live first-class since thus many people alive together inward the same houses. All fellow member of the household unit of measurement must know their identify inward the chain of command in addition to be solely there. Parents have got a large amount of command over their children because they believe inward the parent curse. This is where the parent tin curse the kid at anytime with infertility. The curse canonly live lifted 1 time the kid admits to their misgivings in addition to parents are pleased.
Giriama women pounding grain
Age at menarche
The women of the civilisation make menarche at the mutual historic menstruum of 9-12. On the nighttime of a immature girls commencement menstraion the begetter is forced to larn out the hut in addition to non render until after she has completed her fist cycle. During at historic menstruum of menarch the immature lady is isolated from the residue of the tribe in addition to she is covered inward oils in addition to perfumes. She is non allowed to larn out the hut unless it is to usage the restroom when she must encompass her fae thus on 1 tin see. After the commencement cycle the immature lady is in addition to thus moved to some other hut where other single women who have got reached menarche. She volition larn out this hut 1 time she is married.
Giriama dancers
Inheritance patterns:
Inheritance is through the begetter to the sons. The caput of the household inward the eldest virile individual in addition to inheritance follows to his eldest son. That is solely partially truthful because the eldest boy shares the responsibleness of the Blue Planet with his brothers. Since all operate the Blue Planet they each percentage inward the harvests equally.
Since the families alive inward multi-generational groups the children are given to the attention of the other women inward the family, traditionally the eldest daughter. Also the children are belongings of the begetter thus the expiry of the woman parent has footling effect.
Giriama dancers
Kuhaswa - Traditional Giriama wedding...
The parents of the bride groom await for the bride.They go to the bride’s domicile in addition to the begetter of the bridegroom introduces himself in addition to and thus says”Fudzire mala Mudzungu wa utsunguni”. We have got come upward to await for the cucumber that is painful. The begetter of the bride answers”nanmambale”let the painful cucumber spread. The bride is in addition to thus called past times the begetter in addition to asked whatever query that volition accept fourth dimension to answer, for the intention of the parents of the bridegroom is to await in addition to uncovering her torso language. If the bridegroom’s parents are impressed past times the bride’s graphic symbol in addition to presentation, they state that they are contented in addition to and thus ready a engagement for the bride groom to come upward in addition to see the bride for the commencement time.
The bridegroom is accompanied past times friends in addition to cousins to come upward in addition to meets the bride. When they larn there, the bride says that he has been sent past times his begetter to come upward in addition to pay a see to the village. The father-in-law understands in addition to calls for his immature lady to take some H2O to the visitors. The bridegroom is non necessarily thirsty but takes the chance to brand the bride remain in that location for sometimes thus that he tin uncovering her physical features. When contented the bridegroom tells the grandma of the bride that”mautin ni toto”-meaning he is pleased.
The bride in addition to the bridegroom are seat inward 1 room thus that they tin innovate to 1 some other in addition to this is how it goes-: They tell their names commencement then:”Nidzire haha henu Kwa sababu nidza fahirwa ni nne, je unnambadze?”-I have got come upward to your domicile because I have got a passion for you, what produce you lot state virtually that? The bride may create upward one's heed to conceal her feelings-“sidzihisi ma mtu yoyosi mino” I produce non experience for anybody. The bridegroom goes on persuading her”Mwanzangu umudzo zhomu ma mahedzu niknhale fukale hammenga siku zosi”My friend you lot are thus cute in addition to I want I hook upward with you lot nosotros live together for the residue of our lives. The bride shrugs her shoulders pregnant that she has agreed but tin state it verbally. The bridegroom stands in addition to hugs the bride in addition to thus he goes out the house. He tells the grandma that things are okay in addition to they leave. The bride groom tells his parents he is pleased in addition to procedures follow.
The parents of the bridegroom go to the bride to discus dowry. The parents of the bride asks for”ndama”bull and”kadzama mirongomiri na nane”eight liters of liquor (mnazi) that volition live sent xx viii times. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twenty-four hours for giving the bull in addition to the liquor is planned, the visitors go to the bride in addition to a ceremony is held. This fourth dimension they accept the bride with them. They sing in addition to dance. The main vocal is”Nangoza mwanangu, dama mwanaanenda, zho kwaatu, anenda kwamulumewee…dede, mudzungu wa utsunguni nau hambale”meaning Iam nursing my immature lady dama,the immature lady is going to peoples home, to her husband, my honey the cucumber of hurting allow it spread. “The begetter inward constabulary asks for a blanket as a gift to bless the couple. The woman parent in-laws for an”mkamba wa kurekeketa mwana”The kanga for carrying the baby. The bride is blessed in addition to asked to grip with all that her hubby tells her .The begetter inward constabulary takes H2O in addition to swirls inward his rima oris in addition to thus blows it on the breast of the bride in addition to the bride groom. The woman parent inward constabulary does the same. The bride groom is told that the bride is non a ball for him to rhythm out all the time, he is advised to protect the bride inward happiness in addition to inward problems.
Giriama Dancers
Culture in addition to Traditions of Giriama people
The Giriama people of Republic of Kenya include pastoralists living inward the hinterland; farmers, who operate Blue Planet closer to the coast; in addition to migrants, who earn coin as laborers or fisherman on the coast itself. Wherever they live, they revere an ancient in addition to formerly fortified capital, located inward the pastoralist hinterland, which few of them always see or visit. It is the site of occasional large-scale ceremonies in addition to becomes especially of import at times of national crisis. It in addition to thus acts as a moral essence of Giriama society, in addition to a symbolic defence against total domination in addition to assimilation. Giriama extended families reside inward homesteads, or compounds. There are usually 3 generations—a father, his married adult woman or wives, all of his sons, the sons' wives, whatever single children, as good as numerous grandchildren. Homesteads make inward size from vii to seventy people.
Giriama girl
Kaya Fungu
Kaya Giriama, also called Kaya Fungo is the primary kaya of the Giriama people. It is located inward the deep hinterland on the high coastal manifestly sometimes referred to a the Nyika Plateau. The relief is apartment to gently undulating betwixt 150-300M with soils derived from siltstone, shale in addition to feldsparic sandstones.
The expanse is semi-arid in addition to charactersized past times thorny woodland / bushland in addition to grassland with lowland dry out wood sometimes occurring on depression hills. Poor in addition to unreliable rainfall in addition to pitiful soils have got resulted inward depression population density (50 per sq KM) in addition to the livestock rearing as the main economical activity. Around Kaya Giriama inward this rural area, are scattered homesteads with patchy maize crops, in addition to globe dams to accept reward of the limited rain.
The local villages are called Gandini, Nzoweni in addition to Kwa Choloto. Due to its sacred status, Kaya Giriama is 1 of the few relatively undisturbed areas of vegetation. It is an expanse of Brachystegia, Afzelia, Julbernardia, terminalia woodland. And Diospyros wooded grassland.
Kaya Giriama
Kaya Giriama has 2 paths leading into the kaya from the eastward in addition to west. The Eastern mwara which is the official entrance has 2 old gate sites spell the western 1 was protected past times 1 gate. Tsangalaweni is the where the path into the kaya begins on the eastern path, in addition to in that location is a kiza in that location to cleanse those who go in.
At Chiza cha Mwaruga some agency in, you lot must pluck a twig from the thicket on your left side, in addition to driblet it into the pot there. After this you lot may non await dorsum as you lot advance into the kaya. Mwaruga is believed to have got been a adult woman prophet who was buried at this site virtually 100m within from Tsangalaweni. This is a identify of cheers giving in addition to offerings site for blessings received. In the past, light-green maize, bananas, cassava, dry out maize flour, tobacco, meat in addition to coin would live offered but due to frequent droughts in addition to famines
people tin no longer afford this. Instead visitors pluck in addition to driblet a symbolic light-green twig. If 1 forgets to cutting the light-green twig, tobacco tin substitute. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 heap of dry out twigs is evident when you lot larn here.
The Moroni is quite fundamental inward the clearing in addition to the Singwaya Fingo is believed to live buried close it inward a location known as Furudai. This is the forested expanse southward of the moro in addition to is the most sacred in addition to terrible identify inward the kaya. Strictly no entry is permitted except for a Mumwangoa clan elderberry initiated to produce so. In the kaya the residential areas of the diverse clans are also identified (Chiro, 2007).
Giriama elders
Ritual Huts
There are 2 of import ritual huts silent erected in addition to maintained at Kayafungo: the Nyumba ya Tutu in addition to Nyumba ya Ngiriama. The Nyumba ya Tutu is used to solid specific hole-and-corner objects of the community associated with the direction of oaths. It is positioned side past times side to Moroni. Only 1 appointed Elder may go into it in addition to sit down inward it in addition to the circumstances of its usage are elaborate in addition to complex.
The materials used for edifice the hut are highly specific. The thatch grass is kitoja in addition to is obtainable from the fields spell the poles must live of Mkone, or myama trees. The ropes used are either of Mkone or Morya bark.
Nyumba ya Ngiriama is the official province solid in addition to is used to solid all hole-and-corner objects of the community. It is positioned side past times side to Moroni. Entry is limited solely to 1 senior fellow member of the council. The protocols of access are real strict in addition to complex. Poles from a mix of the trees associated with spirits such as Mkone tin live used in addition to all the materials must live sourced from within.
Giriama immature lady carrying a baby
Chiza/ altars
Besides the chiza (Plural Viza) along the paths which preclude the entry of enemies in addition to bad influences, in that location are other places of prayer at specific localities within in addition to exterior the kaya. Some are hidden inward the wood spell some are within the fundamental hamlet area.
They tin live nether real tall trees, past times a river or spring, or at the graves of the founders of the Kaya. Some of the kiza at Kaya Giriama include the following:
Zia ra Ache. This is a permanent H2O squall for where women attention a funeral go to bathe in addition to launder clothes. The spirits that caused the expiry are washed off at this identify in addition to left here, never to haunt the morning time household unit of measurement relatives again.
Kiza cha Mvula This is a pelting prayer altar flora after the final gate to the cental clearing. During the pelting prayer ceremony, the one-half buried pot has to live filled with H2O drawn inward guards past times virgin immature girls from the 4 corners (pembe nne) of the kaya. The H2O must non live allowed to overflow otherwise in that location volition live floods.
Mbari tandahu This is close the Moro in addition to in that location are river stones symbolizing Giriama ladies from the 6 main clans. During ceremonies at the spot, women dressed inward black, carmine in addition to white fabric loincloths are smeared with castor seed oil. If also much crude is applied as to movement spillage, in that location volition live also much rains in addition to the crops volition fail. This is a prayer site for expert rains, wellness in addition to a bumper harvest. Access is restricted to the women elders who apply the crude in addition to men elders of the senior kambi.
Mtsara wa Kaya This is a permanent H2O squall for in addition to prayer site for expert rains, peace in addition to also pray for healing against affliction outbreak. The H2O is solely for human consumption in addition to no cattle is allowed is. Livestock who accidentally potable hither volition decease (Chiro, 2007).
Tradtional Rules of Kaya Giriama.
The Kaya Elders of Giriama are the main custodians of the Kaya in addition to its traditions. Meeting regularly inward the kaya they supply advice to local people on cultural in addition to spiritual matters, adjudicate disputes in addition to Pb ceremonies. They enforce a code of rules for the Kaya including the next (from Chiro, 2007) :
• Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ban on the wearing of shoes beyond the final gate of the kaya. It is also a taboo to go into the kaya with unusual items or usage them spell inward the kaya as in that location purity is doubtful. Consequently, caps/ hats (Chepeu) are non allowed into the kaya.
• Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ban on livestock inward the kaya. They are taken in that location for ceremonies solely in addition to if accidentally stray into the kaya, they must live cleansed otherwise they should live slaughtered in addition to eaten inward there.
• Elders must abstain from sexual practice on the nighttime preceding a cereminy as this could compromise their purity. To ensure this the elders commonly remain inward the kaya away from their families the nighttime earlier or a few days to the ceremony.
• All cooking in addition to serving of dishes must live done using traditional items such as the clay pots, mvure, Lwiga in addition to chifudu cutting from kokosnoot shell. Modern twenty-four hours kitchen ware such as Sufurias, bowels in addition to plates are strictly non permitted.
• It is a taboo to take inward flames from exterior the kaya. All ceremonial flames are started using friction of Mkirindi flame materials.
• It is a taboo to cutting trees inward the kaya without the approving of the elders. The trees are believed to live abode or shelter of ancestral spirits in addition to also shelters the hole-and-corner objects of the community. Any felling of trees must live consented past times the elders in addition to a cleansing ritual must live undertaken to appease spirits. Cutting of trees desecrates the site..
• Firewood inward the kaya wood is collected solely to live used inward the kaya in addition to the species collected must non have got thorns. The firewood is harvested from the periphery of the hamlet in addition to women must usage the same paths on their return.
Giriama drummers
Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or condition classes):
The people if giriama adhere to a non-centralized authorities based on a council of elders called the Kambi, which are derived from historic menstruum sets. Age-sets in addition to hole-and-corner societies dominion the Kaya. The Giriama people adhere to strict age-sets. These historic menstruum sets delineate the chain of command in addition to ensure the transmission of tradition
from 1 generation to the next. There are a total of thirteen age-sets that each virile individual volition go through. In monastic tell to advance inward social club you lot must go through for certain rituals of recognition. Men historic menstruum 60+ go through a ceremony called, Mung’aro inward monastic tell to relish retirement. To larn business office of the kimbra, the ruling council, men ages 40-69 go through a Kirao. If you lot want to live business office of the Kimbra you lot must live prepared past times going through the Sayo ra Mudhanga from ages 37-69 in addition to the ritual go along along the route to maturity .
Giriama dancers from Malind, Kenya. Circa 1970
There is a single woman individual hole-and-corner society, known as Kifudu, who maintain clay pots that stand upward for ancestresses, inward a thatched roofed hut. These pots are inward the command of post-menopausal women, who are inward command of the fertility of the entire ethnic group.
To honour them, the women accept the pots from the shrine, take them to the centre of the homestead, in addition to "play" them—by putting their mouths inward the openings of the pots in addition to blowing. Without the women performing rituals centering on these clay pots, the Giriama believe that immature fertile women volition have got problems inward childbirth.
The Giriama have got 5 virile individual hole-and-corner societies, the main social club beingness the Gohu society, which similar to the Lions Club or the Masons, is a fraternal organization for wealthier-than-average men. You have got to live elected to membership in addition to pay membership fees, which past times local standards are quite expensive. There isn't a lot of wealth stratification alongside the Giriama, but Gohu membership requires giving a bull. The key characteristic of the Gohu social club is how they honour their members when they die. Men inward the social club are skilled carvers in addition to are paid to create the kigango—a memorial statue—for the dead Gohu member. The posts, which make from iv to ix feet tall, are created from indigenous termite-resistant hardwood. They consist of a circle for the caput in addition to rectangle for the body, in addition to vary inward decoration. Vigango are placed some the border of the homestead, but they are non the sole monuments. Other uncarved wooden statues, called koma, are raised inward honour of non-Gohu members in addition to occupy the middle of the homestead. "These smaller statues are erected inward a clear infinite that is surrounded past times homes. People are buried correct side past times side to their houses, thus these statues produce non truly grade the graves. Even these ordinary statues play a purpose inward the daily lives of the Giriama. When they potable palm wine, they'll pour a few drops on the Blue Planet inward forepart of the statues in addition to state a few words to the ancestors.
There's a potent belief inward the ability of the ancestors to influence the lives of the living on an everyday basis. The remarkable thing virtually the Giriama is that, despite the inroads of Islam in addition to Christianity, indigenous religious beliefs go along to live strongly held, in addition to primary alongside those is veneration for the ancestors in addition to ancestresses.
In the example of vigango, they are believed to embody the spirit of the ancestor. These statues are the tangible link betwixt the living in addition to the dead, in addition to must live honored through beast sacrifice in addition to libations. Failure to perform these rituals or, worse yet, removing a kigango from its site volition trigger the curse of the ancestral spirit. This curse tin accept the shape of bodily illness or expiry of the descendants, drought, in addition to diseased livestock.
Giriama man
Religion
Giriama people simply similar all Mijikenda people worship a Supreme beingness in addition to Creator god known as Mulungu. Mulungu is believed to the God inward a higher identify all the gods in addition to cannot live seen. He is worshiped through mediators who inquire favors for Giriama people. Mulungu punishes in addition to blesses according the deed of an individual.
Apart from Mulungu, the Giriamas traditionalists also believe inward ancestral deity worship. Their famous deity is called the Koma. They used to sacrifice at the Koma,nearly on weekely basis. Sacrifices included alcohol (the tradiational Manazi) which is palm wine. They believe that the koma were truly the representatives of the living dead, they would therefor bring upward the komas with names og all the elders that have got gone befopre them. The koma was a curves slice of wood, in addition to the eledest of them that have got already gone earlier them was represented with a bigger peice of wood called the Kigango. When problem befalls a family, they would sometime go to scarifice past times the koma side, sometimes porridge in addition to blood would live used. Thursday Giriama silent are directly largely migrating from these believes in addition to majorly have got larn Christians, with some few becomeing muslims. There are afew silent that stiil exercise the tradition religion. They also believed inward witchcraft.
Giriama girl, Kenya
Source:http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1231rev.pdf
http://www.ku.ac.ke/schools/visual_arts/images/stories/docs/research/expressing-power.pdf
Giriama dancers
Mekatilili was 1 of the commencement women inward Republic of Kenya to ascent upward against the British inward 1913. Her bravery, oratorical ability in addition to charisma earned her a huge next in addition to saw her mobilise the Giriama to accept oaths in addition to offering sacrifices to restore their sovereignty.
Initially, her concern was the breakdown of the Giriama civilisation amid British influence in addition to she pushed for a render to the traditional Giriama governance system. By extension, it created resistance to the ascendency of the British in addition to the appointed headmen, the latter whom she defendant of betraying the Giriama for rewards.
Mekatilili was specially against the number of labour recruitment. At the time, the British were putting increasing economical force per unit of measurement area on the Giriama, through taxation, attempts to command merchandise inward palm vino in addition to ivory, in addition to past times the recruitment of immature men to operate on plantations in addition to populace works projects.
Mekatilili’s anguish was over the growing disintegration of the Giriama, thus she called upon her people to relieve their sons in addition to daughters from getting lost inward the British ways.
While her rebellion lasted for solely 1 year, from 1913 to 1914, it had considerable touching on on the relations betwixt the British in addition to the locals.
The British won the state of war against the Giriama, who were forced into a stringent peace settlement.But, inward the long term, the British authorities removed Blue Planet restrictions in addition to lightened labour demands.
The Giriama achieved the main goals for which they had originally fought inward the longer term, but the virtual withdrawal of the colonial direction from the Giriama hinterland may have got contributed to its isolation in addition to economical stagnation to date.
Born inward the 1840s, Mekatilili was the solely immature lady inward a pitiful household unit of measurement of 5 children. Historians attribute her potent feelings on the number of labour to a personal tragedy, inward that 1 of her brothers was captured inward forepart of her eyes past times Arab slave traders. She married but was afterward widowed, which gave her to a greater extent than liberty to displace some as a adult woman leader. “We are non to fright the Europeans,” she thundered inward many of her gatherings, which inward most cases ended inward taking of powerful oaths that effectively prevented all Giriama from co-operating with the colonial administration.
Colonial hut tax
Mekatilili opposed forced labour inward British-owned prophylactic in addition to sisal plantations, the colonial hut taxation (forcing every household unit of measurement to give coin to the British), Blue Planet seizure evictions from the fertile Sabaki River Valley in addition to restricted consumption of palm wine.To attract the crowds to her meetings, she used to displace from 1 hamlet to some other dancing Kifudu, a revered trip the lite fantastic that was performed solely during funeral ceremonies. The women would follow her, their men inward tow.
Archival records present that Charles Hobley, who was the Coast provincial commissioner from 1912 to 1919, attributed most of the responsibleness for Giriama resistance against colonial labour in addition to taxation policies to “an old blind rascal named Ngonyo” who “instigated a half-mad adult woman named Katilili to tour the province preaching active opposition to Government.” She was instrumental inward the most of import coming together held inward Kaya Fungo, the ritual centre of the Giriama, inward July in addition to August 1913, where she led the discussions in addition to complained virtually labour demands in addition to the jurisdiction of the traditional elders beingness undermined.
She said the reward which headmen received gave the authorities the belief that they had a correct to need inexpensive labour. But the British were non simply sitting by. Mekatilili in addition to a virile individual leader of the Giriama resistance, Wanje wa Mwadorikola, were arrested inward Oct 1913 in addition to sentenced to 5 years detention.
The 2 were deported to the far due west of Kenya, Mumias, but escaped a few months afterward in addition to walked dorsum domicile to go along with the resistance.
The British were mesmerised past times how she could have got walked such a distance through the wood infested with unsafe wild animals. She was 1 time to a greater extent than arrested, this fourth dimension to live sent N to the Somalia border area. Again, she escaped. Mekatilili was variously described past times the British as a “witch” in addition to a “prophetess who gave additional strength to the oath inward spreading the gospel of violence”. But her powerful oaths were non to larn by the colonialists, but to examine to win dorsum those Giriama who had transferred their loyalties to the British.
Despite her exploits, Mekatilili, who died inward 1925 at the historic menstruum of 70, was non recognised alongside Kenyan liberty fighters until Oct 20, 2010, the commencement 'Mashujaa' (Heroes) Day, when her statue was unveiled at Uhuru Gardens inward Nairobi — renamed Mekatilili wa Menza Garden — inward her honour. Read farther here: books.google.com
source:http://www.africareview.com/Special+Reports/The++mad+Kenyan+woman+who+rattled+the+British
http://elimuasilia1.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html
Giriama people from Malindi, Republic of Kenya performing traditional dance
With the total population of over 750,00 people Giriama are alongside the largest (or the minute largest after Digo) of the Mijikenda (meaning "The Nine Tribes) Coastal people formally known as Nyika people, who are made upward of ix sub groups. The Mijikenda other sub tribes include: the Digo, the Duruma, the Chonyi, the Rabai, the Jibana, the Kauma, The Kambe in addition to the Ribe.
The Giriama were most famous for their fearless nature in addition to warfare tactics, especially their women. Giriama in addition to Kenyan heroine Mekatilili wa Menza is credited for staging "The Giriama uprising of 1913-1914" against the British colonial powers. According to Brantley, inward the curt term “The British won the state of war against the Giriama, in addition to the Giriama were forced into a stringent peace settlement”, though inward the medium term “the British authorities removed Blue Planet restrictions in addition to lightened labor demands. In this policy reversal the Giriama achieved the main goals for which they had originally fought” (1986: 152) click here:Mekatilili.pdf. Examples of Giriama names are Charo, Karisa, Kahindi, Kazungu, Katana in addition to Kitsao.
Giriama people
Who is Mekatilili wa Menza?
Me Po Ho, a prophetess close the coast, had prophesied the coming of the white men to Africa. She said that some large “white butterflies would come upward from the sea in addition to would take many changes, both expert in addition to bad”. Me Po Ho also prophesied that a immature lady would live born inward Giriama, Kenya, who would larn a dandy leader in addition to would take victory to the Giriama against a powerful enemy. This girl, named Mekatilili wa Menza, was born some 1870. Mekatilili led her people to rebel against the British byurging them to halt paying taxes in addition to working on British farms.
Mekatilili wa Menza
She was arrested on 17 Oct 1913 past times a strength of British soldiers for beingness the Giriama leader,and transported to a jail inward Kisii where she was sentenced to serve 5 years with difficult labour. She escaped from prison theater 5 months afterward on 20 Apr 1914. She in addition to her virile individual counterpart Wanje walked dorsum to Giriama over a menstruum of 3 months. Upon her render she flora that her people silent continued to endure nether the yoke of British colonialism past times beingness forced to pay taxes, spell men were forced to operate on their farms. The British focused on the fertile Blue Planet of the Giriama people in addition to organized to destroy a kaya, a sacred beach expanse that was the source of the people’s spiritual strength in addition to identity.
Mekatilili in addition to Wanje were recaptured in addition to sent dorsum to jail inward Kisii. This ignited a state of war betwixt the Giriama in addition to the British. In 1919 Mekatilili in addition to Wanje were released from prison. Mekatilili continued with her fighting spirit in addition to spoke forcefully in addition to eloquently. She urged her people to rebuild the kaya. The British allowed the people to alive inward peace in addition to freedom. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 novel council of
elders was installed, with Wanje as the leader. Mekatilili was the caput of the women elders, a wise ruler of her people
Giriama hut
Sexual partitioning of production:
Like inward most tribal cultures the men are responsible for providing nutrient in addition to protection to the family, spell the woman parent is left all domestic responsibilities.
Land tenure:
Each human places a boundary grade some his shamba or farm oft consisting of a path or marking of sticks. That human volition retain that Blue Planet for the residue of his life. He may take to larn out the Blue Planet unused, in addition to larn out for many years. If he hears of someone using his Blue Planet he may render in addition to need the cost of the Blue Planet leaving the farmer forced to pay. The bush in addition to trees (jungle) are populace domain.
As the far as sharing goes the Giriama people have got a real unproblematic philosophy. They believe that anyone who assist with the operate larn a portion of the harvest. If the community
Food taboos:
There are no taboo foods inward the Giriama culture. They believe inward using every business office of the beast from organs to blood. Milk is regularly enjoyed in addition to sold. The potable of alternative is a grain alcohol called tembo that is precious to their people. The Giriama fish for some of their nutrient in addition to oft usage canoes to make for certain kinds of fish. The canoes are made of hollowed out trees from the surrounding jungle.
Giriama tribe adult woman at the kitchen
Parent-offspring interactions in addition to conflict:
Parent offspring interactions must live first-class since thus many people alive together inward the same houses. All fellow member of the household unit of measurement must know their identify inward the chain of command in addition to be solely there. Parents have got a large amount of command over their children because they believe inward the parent curse. This is where the parent tin curse the kid at anytime with infertility. The curse canonly live lifted 1 time the kid admits to their misgivings in addition to parents are pleased.
Age at menarche
The women of the civilisation make menarche at the mutual historic menstruum of 9-12. On the nighttime of a immature girls commencement menstraion the begetter is forced to larn out the hut in addition to non render until after she has completed her fist cycle. During at historic menstruum of menarch the immature lady is isolated from the residue of the tribe in addition to she is covered inward oils in addition to perfumes. She is non allowed to larn out the hut unless it is to usage the restroom when she must encompass her fae thus on 1 tin see. After the commencement cycle the immature lady is in addition to thus moved to some other hut where other single women who have got reached menarche. She volition larn out this hut 1 time she is married.
Giriama dancers
Inheritance patterns:
Inheritance is through the begetter to the sons. The caput of the household inward the eldest virile individual in addition to inheritance follows to his eldest son. That is solely partially truthful because the eldest boy shares the responsibleness of the Blue Planet with his brothers. Since all operate the Blue Planet they each percentage inward the harvests equally.
Since the families alive inward multi-generational groups the children are given to the attention of the other women inward the family, traditionally the eldest daughter. Also the children are belongings of the begetter thus the expiry of the woman parent has footling effect.
Giriama dancers
Kuhaswa - Traditional Giriama wedding...
The parents of the bride groom await for the bride.They go to the bride’s domicile in addition to the begetter of the bridegroom introduces himself in addition to and thus says”Fudzire mala Mudzungu wa utsunguni”. We have got come upward to await for the cucumber that is painful. The begetter of the bride answers”nanmambale”let the painful cucumber spread. The bride is in addition to thus called past times the begetter in addition to asked whatever query that volition accept fourth dimension to answer, for the intention of the parents of the bridegroom is to await in addition to uncovering her torso language. If the bridegroom’s parents are impressed past times the bride’s graphic symbol in addition to presentation, they state that they are contented in addition to and thus ready a engagement for the bride groom to come upward in addition to see the bride for the commencement time.
The bridegroom is accompanied past times friends in addition to cousins to come upward in addition to meets the bride. When they larn there, the bride says that he has been sent past times his begetter to come upward in addition to pay a see to the village. The father-in-law understands in addition to calls for his immature lady to take some H2O to the visitors. The bridegroom is non necessarily thirsty but takes the chance to brand the bride remain in that location for sometimes thus that he tin uncovering her physical features. When contented the bridegroom tells the grandma of the bride that”mautin ni toto”-meaning he is pleased.
The bride in addition to the bridegroom are seat inward 1 room thus that they tin innovate to 1 some other in addition to this is how it goes-: They tell their names commencement then:”Nidzire haha henu Kwa sababu nidza fahirwa ni nne, je unnambadze?”-I have got come upward to your domicile because I have got a passion for you, what produce you lot state virtually that? The bride may create upward one's heed to conceal her feelings-“sidzihisi ma mtu yoyosi mino” I produce non experience for anybody. The bridegroom goes on persuading her”Mwanzangu umudzo zhomu ma mahedzu niknhale fukale hammenga siku zosi”My friend you lot are thus cute in addition to I want I hook upward with you lot nosotros live together for the residue of our lives. The bride shrugs her shoulders pregnant that she has agreed but tin state it verbally. The bridegroom stands in addition to hugs the bride in addition to thus he goes out the house. He tells the grandma that things are okay in addition to they leave. The bride groom tells his parents he is pleased in addition to procedures follow.
The parents of the bridegroom go to the bride to discus dowry. The parents of the bride asks for”ndama”bull and”kadzama mirongomiri na nane”eight liters of liquor (mnazi) that volition live sent xx viii times. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twenty-four hours for giving the bull in addition to the liquor is planned, the visitors go to the bride in addition to a ceremony is held. This fourth dimension they accept the bride with them. They sing in addition to dance. The main vocal is”Nangoza mwanangu, dama mwanaanenda, zho kwaatu, anenda kwamulumewee…dede, mudzungu wa utsunguni nau hambale”meaning Iam nursing my immature lady dama,the immature lady is going to peoples home, to her husband, my honey the cucumber of hurting allow it spread. “The begetter inward constabulary asks for a blanket as a gift to bless the couple. The woman parent in-laws for an”mkamba wa kurekeketa mwana”The kanga for carrying the baby. The bride is blessed in addition to asked to grip with all that her hubby tells her .The begetter inward constabulary takes H2O in addition to swirls inward his rima oris in addition to thus blows it on the breast of the bride in addition to the bride groom. The woman parent inward constabulary does the same. The bride groom is told that the bride is non a ball for him to rhythm out all the time, he is advised to protect the bride inward happiness in addition to inward problems.
Giriama Dancers
Culture in addition to Traditions of Giriama people
The Giriama people of Republic of Kenya include pastoralists living inward the hinterland; farmers, who operate Blue Planet closer to the coast; in addition to migrants, who earn coin as laborers or fisherman on the coast itself. Wherever they live, they revere an ancient in addition to formerly fortified capital, located inward the pastoralist hinterland, which few of them always see or visit. It is the site of occasional large-scale ceremonies in addition to becomes especially of import at times of national crisis. It in addition to thus acts as a moral essence of Giriama society, in addition to a symbolic defence against total domination in addition to assimilation. Giriama extended families reside inward homesteads, or compounds. There are usually 3 generations—a father, his married adult woman or wives, all of his sons, the sons' wives, whatever single children, as good as numerous grandchildren. Homesteads make inward size from vii to seventy people.
Kaya Fungu
Kaya Giriama, also called Kaya Fungo is the primary kaya of the Giriama people. It is located inward the deep hinterland on the high coastal manifestly sometimes referred to a the Nyika Plateau. The relief is apartment to gently undulating betwixt 150-300M with soils derived from siltstone, shale in addition to feldsparic sandstones.
The expanse is semi-arid in addition to charactersized past times thorny woodland / bushland in addition to grassland with lowland dry out wood sometimes occurring on depression hills. Poor in addition to unreliable rainfall in addition to pitiful soils have got resulted inward depression population density (50 per sq KM) in addition to the livestock rearing as the main economical activity. Around Kaya Giriama inward this rural area, are scattered homesteads with patchy maize crops, in addition to globe dams to accept reward of the limited rain.
The local villages are called Gandini, Nzoweni in addition to Kwa Choloto. Due to its sacred status, Kaya Giriama is 1 of the few relatively undisturbed areas of vegetation. It is an expanse of Brachystegia, Afzelia, Julbernardia, terminalia woodland. And Diospyros wooded grassland.
Kaya Giriama
Kaya Giriama has 2 paths leading into the kaya from the eastward in addition to west. The Eastern mwara which is the official entrance has 2 old gate sites spell the western 1 was protected past times 1 gate. Tsangalaweni is the where the path into the kaya begins on the eastern path, in addition to in that location is a kiza in that location to cleanse those who go in.
At Chiza cha Mwaruga some agency in, you lot must pluck a twig from the thicket on your left side, in addition to driblet it into the pot there. After this you lot may non await dorsum as you lot advance into the kaya. Mwaruga is believed to have got been a adult woman prophet who was buried at this site virtually 100m within from Tsangalaweni. This is a identify of cheers giving in addition to offerings site for blessings received. In the past, light-green maize, bananas, cassava, dry out maize flour, tobacco, meat in addition to coin would live offered but due to frequent droughts in addition to famines
people tin no longer afford this. Instead visitors pluck in addition to driblet a symbolic light-green twig. If 1 forgets to cutting the light-green twig, tobacco tin substitute. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 heap of dry out twigs is evident when you lot larn here.
The Moroni is quite fundamental inward the clearing in addition to the Singwaya Fingo is believed to live buried close it inward a location known as Furudai. This is the forested expanse southward of the moro in addition to is the most sacred in addition to terrible identify inward the kaya. Strictly no entry is permitted except for a Mumwangoa clan elderberry initiated to produce so. In the kaya the residential areas of the diverse clans are also identified (Chiro, 2007).
Giriama elders
Ritual Huts
There are 2 of import ritual huts silent erected in addition to maintained at Kayafungo: the Nyumba ya Tutu in addition to Nyumba ya Ngiriama. The Nyumba ya Tutu is used to solid specific hole-and-corner objects of the community associated with the direction of oaths. It is positioned side past times side to Moroni. Only 1 appointed Elder may go into it in addition to sit down inward it in addition to the circumstances of its usage are elaborate in addition to complex.
The materials used for edifice the hut are highly specific. The thatch grass is kitoja in addition to is obtainable from the fields spell the poles must live of Mkone, or myama trees. The ropes used are either of Mkone or Morya bark.
Nyumba ya Ngiriama is the official province solid in addition to is used to solid all hole-and-corner objects of the community. It is positioned side past times side to Moroni. Entry is limited solely to 1 senior fellow member of the council. The protocols of access are real strict in addition to complex. Poles from a mix of the trees associated with spirits such as Mkone tin live used in addition to all the materials must live sourced from within.
Chiza/ altars
Besides the chiza (Plural Viza) along the paths which preclude the entry of enemies in addition to bad influences, in that location are other places of prayer at specific localities within in addition to exterior the kaya. Some are hidden inward the wood spell some are within the fundamental hamlet area.
They tin live nether real tall trees, past times a river or spring, or at the graves of the founders of the Kaya. Some of the kiza at Kaya Giriama include the following:
Zia ra Ache. This is a permanent H2O squall for where women attention a funeral go to bathe in addition to launder clothes. The spirits that caused the expiry are washed off at this identify in addition to left here, never to haunt the morning time household unit of measurement relatives again.
Kiza cha Mvula This is a pelting prayer altar flora after the final gate to the cental clearing. During the pelting prayer ceremony, the one-half buried pot has to live filled with H2O drawn inward guards past times virgin immature girls from the 4 corners (pembe nne) of the kaya. The H2O must non live allowed to overflow otherwise in that location volition live floods.
Mbari tandahu This is close the Moro in addition to in that location are river stones symbolizing Giriama ladies from the 6 main clans. During ceremonies at the spot, women dressed inward black, carmine in addition to white fabric loincloths are smeared with castor seed oil. If also much crude is applied as to movement spillage, in that location volition live also much rains in addition to the crops volition fail. This is a prayer site for expert rains, wellness in addition to a bumper harvest. Access is restricted to the women elders who apply the crude in addition to men elders of the senior kambi.
Mtsara wa Kaya This is a permanent H2O squall for in addition to prayer site for expert rains, peace in addition to also pray for healing against affliction outbreak. The H2O is solely for human consumption in addition to no cattle is allowed is. Livestock who accidentally potable hither volition decease (Chiro, 2007).
Tradtional Rules of Kaya Giriama.
The Kaya Elders of Giriama are the main custodians of the Kaya in addition to its traditions. Meeting regularly inward the kaya they supply advice to local people on cultural in addition to spiritual matters, adjudicate disputes in addition to Pb ceremonies. They enforce a code of rules for the Kaya including the next (from Chiro, 2007) :
• Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ban on the wearing of shoes beyond the final gate of the kaya. It is also a taboo to go into the kaya with unusual items or usage them spell inward the kaya as in that location purity is doubtful. Consequently, caps/ hats (Chepeu) are non allowed into the kaya.
• Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ban on livestock inward the kaya. They are taken in that location for ceremonies solely in addition to if accidentally stray into the kaya, they must live cleansed otherwise they should live slaughtered in addition to eaten inward there.
• Elders must abstain from sexual practice on the nighttime preceding a cereminy as this could compromise their purity. To ensure this the elders commonly remain inward the kaya away from their families the nighttime earlier or a few days to the ceremony.
• All cooking in addition to serving of dishes must live done using traditional items such as the clay pots, mvure, Lwiga in addition to chifudu cutting from kokosnoot shell. Modern twenty-four hours kitchen ware such as Sufurias, bowels in addition to plates are strictly non permitted.
• It is a taboo to take inward flames from exterior the kaya. All ceremonial flames are started using friction of Mkirindi flame materials.
• It is a taboo to cutting trees inward the kaya without the approving of the elders. The trees are believed to live abode or shelter of ancestral spirits in addition to also shelters the hole-and-corner objects of the community. Any felling of trees must live consented past times the elders in addition to a cleansing ritual must live undertaken to appease spirits. Cutting of trees desecrates the site..
• Firewood inward the kaya wood is collected solely to live used inward the kaya in addition to the species collected must non have got thorns. The firewood is harvested from the periphery of the hamlet in addition to women must usage the same paths on their return.
Giriama drummers
Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or condition classes):
The people if giriama adhere to a non-centralized authorities based on a council of elders called the Kambi, which are derived from historic menstruum sets. Age-sets in addition to hole-and-corner societies dominion the Kaya. The Giriama people adhere to strict age-sets. These historic menstruum sets delineate the chain of command in addition to ensure the transmission of tradition
from 1 generation to the next. There are a total of thirteen age-sets that each virile individual volition go through. In monastic tell to advance inward social club you lot must go through for certain rituals of recognition. Men historic menstruum 60+ go through a ceremony called, Mung’aro inward monastic tell to relish retirement. To larn business office of the kimbra, the ruling council, men ages 40-69 go through a Kirao. If you lot want to live business office of the Kimbra you lot must live prepared past times going through the Sayo ra Mudhanga from ages 37-69 in addition to the ritual go along along the route to maturity .
Giriama dancers from Malind, Kenya. Circa 1970
There is a single woman individual hole-and-corner society, known as Kifudu, who maintain clay pots that stand upward for ancestresses, inward a thatched roofed hut. These pots are inward the command of post-menopausal women, who are inward command of the fertility of the entire ethnic group.
To honour them, the women accept the pots from the shrine, take them to the centre of the homestead, in addition to "play" them—by putting their mouths inward the openings of the pots in addition to blowing. Without the women performing rituals centering on these clay pots, the Giriama believe that immature fertile women volition have got problems inward childbirth.
Giriama dancers
The Giriama have got 5 virile individual hole-and-corner societies, the main social club beingness the Gohu society, which similar to the Lions Club or the Masons, is a fraternal organization for wealthier-than-average men. You have got to live elected to membership in addition to pay membership fees, which past times local standards are quite expensive. There isn't a lot of wealth stratification alongside the Giriama, but Gohu membership requires giving a bull. The key characteristic of the Gohu social club is how they honour their members when they die. Men inward the social club are skilled carvers in addition to are paid to create the kigango—a memorial statue—for the dead Gohu member. The posts, which make from iv to ix feet tall, are created from indigenous termite-resistant hardwood. They consist of a circle for the caput in addition to rectangle for the body, in addition to vary inward decoration. Vigango are placed some the border of the homestead, but they are non the sole monuments. Other uncarved wooden statues, called koma, are raised inward honour of non-Gohu members in addition to occupy the middle of the homestead. "These smaller statues are erected inward a clear infinite that is surrounded past times homes. People are buried correct side past times side to their houses, thus these statues produce non truly grade the graves. Even these ordinary statues play a purpose inward the daily lives of the Giriama. When they potable palm wine, they'll pour a few drops on the Blue Planet inward forepart of the statues in addition to state a few words to the ancestors.
There's a potent belief inward the ability of the ancestors to influence the lives of the living on an everyday basis. The remarkable thing virtually the Giriama is that, despite the inroads of Islam in addition to Christianity, indigenous religious beliefs go along to live strongly held, in addition to primary alongside those is veneration for the ancestors in addition to ancestresses.
In the example of vigango, they are believed to embody the spirit of the ancestor. These statues are the tangible link betwixt the living in addition to the dead, in addition to must live honored through beast sacrifice in addition to libations. Failure to perform these rituals or, worse yet, removing a kigango from its site volition trigger the curse of the ancestral spirit. This curse tin accept the shape of bodily illness or expiry of the descendants, drought, in addition to diseased livestock.
Religion
Giriama people simply similar all Mijikenda people worship a Supreme beingness in addition to Creator god known as Mulungu. Mulungu is believed to the God inward a higher identify all the gods in addition to cannot live seen. He is worshiped through mediators who inquire favors for Giriama people. Mulungu punishes in addition to blesses according the deed of an individual.
Apart from Mulungu, the Giriamas traditionalists also believe inward ancestral deity worship. Their famous deity is called the Koma. They used to sacrifice at the Koma,nearly on weekely basis. Sacrifices included alcohol (the tradiational Manazi) which is palm wine. They believe that the koma were truly the representatives of the living dead, they would therefor bring upward the komas with names og all the elders that have got gone befopre them. The koma was a curves slice of wood, in addition to the eledest of them that have got already gone earlier them was represented with a bigger peice of wood called the Kigango. When problem befalls a family, they would sometime go to scarifice past times the koma side, sometimes porridge in addition to blood would live used. Thursday Giriama silent are directly largely migrating from these believes in addition to majorly have got larn Christians, with some few becomeing muslims. There are afew silent that stiil exercise the tradition religion. They also believed inward witchcraft.
Source:http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1231rev.pdf
http://www.ku.ac.ke/schools/visual_arts/images/stories/docs/research/expressing-power.pdf
Giriama dancers
The ‘mad' Kenyan adult woman who rattled the British
Mekatilili wa Menza may have got been inward the liberty struggle scene for a curt time, but her contribution inward raising the African consciousness alongside the Giriama people of the Coastal Republic of Kenya was immense.Mekatilili was 1 of the commencement women inward Republic of Kenya to ascent upward against the British inward 1913. Her bravery, oratorical ability in addition to charisma earned her a huge next in addition to saw her mobilise the Giriama to accept oaths in addition to offering sacrifices to restore their sovereignty.
Initially, her concern was the breakdown of the Giriama civilisation amid British influence in addition to she pushed for a render to the traditional Giriama governance system. By extension, it created resistance to the ascendency of the British in addition to the appointed headmen, the latter whom she defendant of betraying the Giriama for rewards.
Mekatilili was specially against the number of labour recruitment. At the time, the British were putting increasing economical force per unit of measurement area on the Giriama, through taxation, attempts to command merchandise inward palm vino in addition to ivory, in addition to past times the recruitment of immature men to operate on plantations in addition to populace works projects.
Mekatilili’s anguish was over the growing disintegration of the Giriama, thus she called upon her people to relieve their sons in addition to daughters from getting lost inward the British ways.
While her rebellion lasted for solely 1 year, from 1913 to 1914, it had considerable touching on on the relations betwixt the British in addition to the locals.
The British won the state of war against the Giriama, who were forced into a stringent peace settlement.But, inward the long term, the British authorities removed Blue Planet restrictions in addition to lightened labour demands.
The Giriama achieved the main goals for which they had originally fought inward the longer term, but the virtual withdrawal of the colonial direction from the Giriama hinterland may have got contributed to its isolation in addition to economical stagnation to date.
Born inward the 1840s, Mekatilili was the solely immature lady inward a pitiful household unit of measurement of 5 children. Historians attribute her potent feelings on the number of labour to a personal tragedy, inward that 1 of her brothers was captured inward forepart of her eyes past times Arab slave traders. She married but was afterward widowed, which gave her to a greater extent than liberty to displace some as a adult woman leader. “We are non to fright the Europeans,” she thundered inward many of her gatherings, which inward most cases ended inward taking of powerful oaths that effectively prevented all Giriama from co-operating with the colonial administration.
Colonial hut tax
Mekatilili opposed forced labour inward British-owned prophylactic in addition to sisal plantations, the colonial hut taxation (forcing every household unit of measurement to give coin to the British), Blue Planet seizure evictions from the fertile Sabaki River Valley in addition to restricted consumption of palm wine.To attract the crowds to her meetings, she used to displace from 1 hamlet to some other dancing Kifudu, a revered trip the lite fantastic that was performed solely during funeral ceremonies. The women would follow her, their men inward tow.
Archival records present that Charles Hobley, who was the Coast provincial commissioner from 1912 to 1919, attributed most of the responsibleness for Giriama resistance against colonial labour in addition to taxation policies to “an old blind rascal named Ngonyo” who “instigated a half-mad adult woman named Katilili to tour the province preaching active opposition to Government.” She was instrumental inward the most of import coming together held inward Kaya Fungo, the ritual centre of the Giriama, inward July in addition to August 1913, where she led the discussions in addition to complained virtually labour demands in addition to the jurisdiction of the traditional elders beingness undermined.
She said the reward which headmen received gave the authorities the belief that they had a correct to need inexpensive labour. But the British were non simply sitting by. Mekatilili in addition to a virile individual leader of the Giriama resistance, Wanje wa Mwadorikola, were arrested inward Oct 1913 in addition to sentenced to 5 years detention.
The 2 were deported to the far due west of Kenya, Mumias, but escaped a few months afterward in addition to walked dorsum domicile to go along with the resistance.
The British were mesmerised past times how she could have got walked such a distance through the wood infested with unsafe wild animals. She was 1 time to a greater extent than arrested, this fourth dimension to live sent N to the Somalia border area. Again, she escaped. Mekatilili was variously described past times the British as a “witch” in addition to a “prophetess who gave additional strength to the oath inward spreading the gospel of violence”. But her powerful oaths were non to larn by the colonialists, but to examine to win dorsum those Giriama who had transferred their loyalties to the British.
Despite her exploits, Mekatilili, who died inward 1925 at the historic menstruum of 70, was non recognised alongside Kenyan liberty fighters until Oct 20, 2010, the commencement 'Mashujaa' (Heroes) Day, when her statue was unveiled at Uhuru Gardens inward Nairobi — renamed Mekatilili wa Menza Garden — inward her honour. Read farther here: books.google.com
source:http://www.africareview.com/Special+Reports/The++mad+Kenyan+woman+who+rattled+the+British
http://elimuasilia1.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html
0 Response to "Info For You Lot Giriama (Giryama) People: Kenya`S Coastal Warrior Mijikenda People"
Post a Comment