Kikuyu Culture

Course Description

COURSE CONTENT:

1. Kikuyu Origins
• Mythology
• Geographical Settlement and Migration
2. Kikuyu Language
• Basic grammar
• Greetings: Meaning and Functions including their role as indicators of inter-personal relationships
• Language diversity including dialects
• Decorum
3. Kikuyu clans
• Common clans and their peculiar attributes
• Role of clans including social functions
4. Common foods and Drinks
• Common meals and their preparations
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks   

5. Kikuyu recreational activities

• Games and play activities for children
• Sports activities for the youth
• Oral literature: folk songs storytelling, riddles and proverbs
• Communal eating and drinking as leisure

6. Health, Wellbeing and Social welfare

• Children’s illnesses and treatment
• Traditional medicine and the role of the herbalist
• Superstitions (Witch craft and witches)
• Epidemics and natural calamities (famine and disease outbreaks)
• Social welfare – supporting each other

7. Kikuyu attire and accessories

• Dressing for children
• Dressing for the youth
• Dressing for Adults
• Accessories
• Ceremonial attire and accessories
• Favorite colors

8. Kikuyu Economic Activities

• Farming – types of crops and farming methods
• Pastoralism – types of animals kept and characteristics of husbandry
• Trade – intra-Kikuyu and external trade
• Property ownership at the personal, family, clan and community levels

9. Kikuyu social and governance structures

• Family level
• Village organization
• Clans system
• Dispute resolution mechanisms

10. Defense

1. Fighting tools and implements
2. Self-defense
3. Defense of the family
4. Defense of the community

11. Religious beliefs

• Spirits and ancestors
• Worship activities
• Priest/diviner and his roles
• Prophets and seers
• Curses

12. Traditional practices and ceremonies

From birth to 7 years:

• Naming conventions
• Informal education

From 7 to 15 years:

• Initiation rites for boys and Girls
• Religious rituals
• Pass time activities
• Societal roles and economic activities

1. Marriage and family
• Function of marriage
• Courtship
• The process of marrying
• Types of marriages
• Polygamy
• Religious rituals associated with marriage
• Raising children
• Dealing with childlessness (barren/impotent)
• Gender roles in marriage
• Dispute resolution in marriage
• Divorce
• Religious rituals associated with marriage
• Societal roles and economic activities
2. Becoming an elder (from 45 to 70 years)
• Stages towards becoming an elder
• Religious rituals associated with becoming an elder
• Pass time and recreation activities for elders
• Societal roles and economic activities of elders

1. Death and burial/body disposal
• Life expectancy
• Causes of death (natural, witchcraft, curses)
• Burial rites (Children, young people, elders; male, female)
• Burial locations
• Time of burial
• Beliefs about live after death
• Rituals after funeral