IN BRIEF:
- The Kikuyu people have a rich cultural heritage that revolves around farming, livestock keeping, and marriage customs.
- The dowry payment process precedes the wedding and involves a series of events that can take a lifetime to complete.
- The Kikuyu people place great emphasis on reputation, and only reputable village elders are appointed to oversee the dowry payment process and the wedding.
- Their culture has evolved over the years, but the essence of their traditions remains intact, making them a unique and fascinating people.
The Kikuyu people are a Bantu ethnic group native to Mt. Kenya region in Central Region of Kenya. They believe that their ancestors, Gikuyu (father) and Mumbi (mother), originated from Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, which is located in Murang’a, Central Kenya. This place is named after a specific tree, Mukurwe, and a particular species of birds, Nyagathanga.
The Kikuyu have a unique cultural heritage that revolves around farming and livestock keeping. They are renowned for their agricultural products, such as coffee, tea, and fruits, which they have traded for centuries.
The Kikuyu people also consider livestock as a symbol of wealth, with dowry payment being counted in terms of goats, sheep, and cattle. In the traditional Kikuyu society, a man with many daughters is considered wealthy because each daughter's dowry payment would elevate his social status.
In modern times, dowry payment precedes a wedding in Kikuyu culture. This process involves a series of events, which include "Kumenya mucii" (getting to know the bride's home), "Kuhanda ithigi" (planting a branch of a tree), "Kuracia" (actual dowry payment), "Itara" (getting to see the nest or nesting place of their daughter), and finally, "Kuguraria" (traditional Kikuyu wedding).
The dowry payment process can take a lifetime to complete.
The process of marriage in the Kikuyu culture begins when a man proposes to a woman, and she agrees to marry him. The groom then informs his parents or guardians of his intention to marry.
The parents inquire about the bride's background, such as her clan and community, to ensure that there are no cross-marriages between family members.
Once satisfied with the information, the groom's father or guardian informs the extended family and clan, who then convene a committee of reputable village elders known as "athuri."
The committee's role is to organize and facilitate the dowry payment process and the wedding. The groom's father or guardian selects a spokesman for the dowry and marriage negotiations, who must be self-controlled, wise, and able to rise to the occasion.
It is worth noting that the groom must have undergone circumcision and belong to a "rika" or age group; otherwise, complications in the negotiations could arise.
Similarly, the bride informs her parents or guardians of her intention to marry, and they inquire about the groom's family, clan, and community. They also form a committee to facilitate the dowry payment process and the wedding.
The bride's father and uncles are responsible for selecting the committee members.
To become a reputable village elder, there are certain qualifications that one must meet. Firstly, the committee elder should be of the same age group as the bride or groom's father.
Secondly, he should have a good reputation in the community and be a member of the "kiama" of the community. The kiama is a group of respected elders who oversee community matters.
To become a member, one must present "mburi" or goats to the leaders and other members of the kiama.