Ndereti ya Gikuyu

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An Elder’s Story

Introduction

This is a translation of an account given in 1936 by  Mzee  Kabetũ wa Wawerũ. He tells of his life in Kikuyu country during the second half of the nineteenth century. The story ends in 1901 when a Church Missionary Society station was established at Kabete, and his three sons started to attend the mission. The account was taken down verbatim by one of his sons and has been translated by L. S. B. Leakey. It serves as a good introduction to s study of Kikuyu law and custom prior to 1900, because, in this simple story, the elder mentions a great many of the customs and ceremonies which were part of Kikuyu life.

Mzee Kabetũ’s Story

I was born very long ago at a place called Gĩthĩga, but I do not know how old I am. I was the youngest son of my mother. Her eldest son was called Mũcene, and her second son Kiariĩ. Both of these elder brothers of mine were born at a place called Gaicanjirũ, in the Mũrurĩ district, the area where my father, Wawerũ, and both his brothers, Mbogo and Njerũ (also called Mũthemba), lived. It was there, at Gaicanjirũ, that my grandfather Kairũmi died.

My father once told me the reason his family left Gaicanjirũ and moved to Gĩthĩga, where I was born. At Gaicanjirũ our family had a big estate (gĩthaka), and they were very rich, having immense flocks and herds. Because of this, they were much hated by many of their neighbours….

Ngeithi Nyingĩ kuuma kũri mũtabarĩri wa tabarĩra ya Ndereti ya Gĩkũyũ.

Mũndũ agĩkorwo na ũndũ angĩenda wario tabarĩra-inĩ ĩno no anyandĩkĩre tũrũa o haha.

Ona ũngĩkorwo wĩna kaũndũ ũkwenda mũtabarĩri amenye;  kana kaũndu ga kũrũnga mũtabarirĩria

Kana kaũndũ ga gũkindĩra ũrĩa aroiga, ririkana kĩrĩ ngoro gĩtihotanaga.

Thayũ.

Karanja.