The Mugwe by B. Bernardi

Author:B. Bernardi [Bernardi, B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Ethnic Studies, African Studies, Anthropology, General
ISBN: 9781351038324
Google: mRBqDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2018-08-16T03:40:04+00:00

1 The Athwana call the ntuiko, gukora gaaru, stressing the function of the gaaru in the initiation of new members.

1 It was in this way that I came to know of the proclamation of the new Mugwe of the Tigania-Igoki, M. Kirimi, during May 1956.

2 In 1955 I visited the lower forest, described as giitho kia Mukiama, the forest of the Mukiama. It was a grove, not large, crossed by a small watercourse, which formed a small pool, covered with water plants and flowers. Being able to see the water under the leaves was a sign that God was pleased with the Mukiama.

1 The idea of the sacred character of black is also peculiar to the Masai. Engai Narok, God Black, is the Masai good God who sends the rain in plenty (black clouds).

1 The ritual of the accession of the new Mugwe recorded by Father Ghilardi of the Igoji Catholic Mission, describes the Mugwe as being crowned and put into office by an old woman, mwekuru umukuru muno, who after the ceremony was expected to retire and die. The recorder and his informants, who were educated Meru, suggested that poison was very probably administered to make sure that she would die. It was thought that, having touched the Mugwe with her hands, she should no longer be allowed to live.

1 In modern usage, mwene giti, lit. ‘the owner of the chair’, is the Meru translation for the English ‘chairman’.

1 In 1934 Father Comoglio of the Consolata Mission, who had been living at Chera for some months and was (and still is) a personal friend of M. Kiganka, witnessed one of these functions. He describes vividly how the elders and the warriors of the Chuka had crowded together in the large plain of Chera Village, and how they passed in an orderly fashion before M. Kiganka, who in his official attire as their Mugwe, blessed every one of them, to the accompaniment of the high-pitched song: ni we Mugwe, ni we Mugwe, ‘you are the Mugwe, you are the Mugwe’.

1 It is significant to note that all through Tharakaland honey is one of the main products. Beeswax is sold by the Tharaka at the markets of the Meru and Kamba. It is also exported to Nairobi.

1 The speaker, M. Arethi M. Twerandu, was an elder of Nkubu where I had been stationed as the Father in charge. He knew me very well and we were good friends.

2 In current speech the term Kiragu may also describe all the paraphernalia of a medicine-man.

1 The following proverb illustrates the attitude of the Kikuyu on this subject: Andu matari ndundu mahuraguo na njogoma imwe, ‘People without a secret entente are brought to their knees at a single stroke’.

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