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Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the warHobley, C. W. (Charles William)

Religion

Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the war

Name: Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the war
Author: Hobley, C. W. (Charles William)

Hobley, C. W. (Charles William)

Bantu-speaking peoples -- Folklore; Folklore -- Africa; Indigenous peoples -- Africa, East; Kamba (African people); Kikuyu (African people)

was sold in Kikuyu
                                               during the year. Those
                                               circumcised in 1910
                                               belong to this morika,
                                               it will finish early
                                               in 1911.


    VERSION II

     1.   Chiira.
     2.   Mathathi.
     3.   Endemi.
     4.   Iregi.
     5.   Mukuria.
     6.   Kicharu.
     7.   Kamao.
     8.   Kiarie.
     9.   Kimemia.
    10.   Kimani.
    11.   Karanja.
    12.   Kinuthia.
    13.   Njuguna.
    14.   Kinyanjui or Kathuru.
    15.   Ngnanga.
    16.   Njerogi.
    17.   Ubu.
    18.   Wainaina  }   These are often
    19.   Kangnethi }   grouped as Wainaina.
    20.   Kitao     }
    21.   Mungai   }   Often grouped as
    22.   Injehia  }   Mungai.
    23.   Mairanga }
    24.   Marire.
    25.   Wangigi.
    26.   Ngua ya nina.
    27.   Wakirutu.
    28.   Mougwa or Kitindiko.
    29.   Mwitongu.
    30.   Mwiruri.
    31.   Uchu.
    32.   Kiambuthi.
    33.   Ngugi or Kirira.
    34.   Mangorio.
    35.   Rohangha.
    36.   Wanyoike.
    37.   Kinyiti.
    38.   Imboru.
    39.   Ingigi.
    40.   Mutungu.
    41.   Kenjeko.
    42.   Kamande.


This brings us up to the last few years, and the elders said they had
no interest in them.

The name given to the morika generally has some topical allusion to an
event which occurred during the year and about the time of the
circumcision ceremonies; these allusions are naturally forgotten in
course of time, and the derivations in many cases now appear senseless.

One morika extends over two years, or four Kikuyu seasons, called
Kimera.

The terms Maina and Mwangi as names for the rika of the last fifty
years seem to be fixed as far as one can gather, e.g.:—


    The Chief Katonyo’s father was Maina.
    Katonyo himself is Mwangi.
    Katonyo’s children are Maina.
    Katonyo’s grandchildren when circumcised become Mwangi.
    His great-grandchildren when circumcised become Maina.


So apparently every person when circumcised takes the name of the
morika of his grandfather.

The word morika is used indifferently as applying to the larger group
as well as to the group of a particular year. Any young men, however,
who have been circumcised of recent years, and are still under the
class Mwiringhu, would not be called Mwangi until the group of years
was complete.

The time of the completion of a group of years is decided by the
elders, but what determined the commencement of a new group was not
ascertained.

These rika names only apply to males.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the warHobley, C. W. (Charles William)

Religion

Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the war

Hobley, C. W. (Charles William)

Bantu-speaking peoples -- Folklore; Folklore -- Africa; Indigenous peoples -- Africa, East; Kamba (African people); Kikuyu (African people)

was sold in Kikuyu
                                               during the year. Those
                                               circumcised in 1910
                                               belong to this morika,
                                               it will finish early
                                               in 1911.


    VERSION II

     1.   Chiira.
     2.   Mathathi.
     3.   Endemi.
     4.   Iregi.
     5.   Mukuria.
     6.   Kicharu.
     7.   Kamao.
     8.   Kiarie.
     9.   Kimemia.
    10.   Kimani.
    11.   Karanja.
    12.   Kinuthia.
    13.   Njuguna.
    14.   Kinyanjui or Kathuru.
    15.   Ngnanga.
    16.   Njerogi.
    17.   Ubu.
    18.   Wainaina  }   These are often
    19.   Kangnethi }   grouped as Wainaina.
    20.   Kitao     }
    21.   Mungai   }   Often grouped as
    22.   Injehia  }   Mungai.
    23.   Mairanga }
    24.   Marire.
    25.   Wangigi.
    26.   Ngua ya nina.
    27.   Wakirutu.
    28.   Mougwa or Kitindiko.
    29.   Mwitongu.
    30.   Mwiruri.
    31.   Uchu.
    32.   Kiambuthi.
    33.   Ngugi or Kirira.
    34.   Mangorio.
    35.   Rohangha.
    36.   Wanyoike.
    37.   Kinyiti.
    38.   Imboru.
    39.   Ingigi.
    40.   Mutungu.
    41.   Kenjeko.
    42.   Kamande.


This brings us up to the last few years, and the elders said they had
no interest in them.

The name given to the morika generally has some topical allusion to an
event which occurred during the year and about the time of the
circumcision ceremonies; these allusions are naturally forgotten in
course of time, and the derivations in many cases now appear senseless.

One morika extends over two years, or four Kikuyu seasons, called
Kimera.

The terms Maina and Mwangi as names for the rika of the last fifty
years seem to be fixed as far as one can gather, e.g.:—


    The Chief Katonyo’s father was Maina.
    Katonyo himself is Mwangi.
    Katonyo’s children are Maina.
    Katonyo’s grandchildren when circumcised become Mwangi.
    His great-grandchildren when circumcised become Maina.


So apparently every person when circumcised takes the name of the
morika of his grandfather.

The word morika is used indifferently as applying to the larger group
as well as to the group of a particular year. Any young men, however,
who have been circumcised of recent years, and are still under the
class Mwiringhu, would not be called Mwangi until the group of years
was complete.

The time of the completion of a group of years is decided by the
elders, but what determined the commencement of a new group was not
ascertained.

These rika names only apply to males.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the war

Bantu Beliefs and Magic: With particular reference to the Kikuyu and Kamba tribes of Kenya Colony; together with some reflections on East Africa after the war

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