Why Excommunication From One's Family (Nyûmba), Riika (Age-group) in Kikuyu Community was the Mother of all Curses
The Kikuyus are an agrarian, matrilineal, Bantu community with a remarkable, vitalisticocommunal-relational world view belonging to both mariika (age-groups and generations) and the full nine muhiriga (clans) named after the nine daughters of their founding ancestors.
They believe in Gikuyu as their founder father and Mumbi as their founder mother. For them, MweneNyaga is the One and Only Ngai (God), whom they worship and adore. The Kikuyus are scattered all over Kenya, but their ancestral territory is to be found in the counties of Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Nyandarua.
A critical observation reveals that the Kikuyu social structure has remained substantially conservative and unchanged. The family is made of husband, wife/wives and their children.
This is the nucleus unit of the Kikuyu society. A group of families (nyumba) form mbari (kinship). The nyumba (group of families) emerges from the nine original Mihiriga (clans). A nyumba is by itself a mucii (homestead). A collection of micii (homesteads) makes up an ituura (numerous fairly extensive homesteads or small villages).
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In this, is found the network of social and political bond of the community. The matuura (sing. Ituura) compose a mwaki (literally, fire) which is a segment of a rugongo(ridge). The ng'ongo (ridges) combined make a bururi (country).
All these are in turn mainly strengthened by the mariika (age-groups). Anybody or phenomenon seen to be severing the above social organisation not only incurs a curse, but is taken to be a curse personified.
On the other hand, whoever or whatever positively enhances these bonds within this invaluable family solidarity acquires blessings. Such a person becomes a yearned for blessing.
The riika system among the Kikuyus acts as cultural vehicle. It is a tool for social control that also provides manpower for public duties. That is why undermining the riika standards through evil attitudes, misconduct, malevolent mentality and contempt is believed to attract a serious curse.
Clans and age groups act as custodians of moral uprightness, cultural values and religiosity. The guiding philosophy is that one does not lose the age grade or the clan. Right? Within this philosophy then, to be culpably ex-communicated from one's riika or nyumba triggers an overwhelming traumatic curse.
The original & comprehensive version of this article by P.N. Wachege from Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Nairobi, is available in PDF format here.