Kikuyu

KIKUYU
Language & Culture Studying KIKUYU

The Kikuyu language is of the Bantu family. It is the first in the U.S.
language to approximately 20% (seven million) of Kenya’s
population making them the country’s largest ethnic Below are some universities in the
group. Kikuyu has three main dialects which are mutually United States that currently offer
intelligible. These dialects are Ndia (kiambu district),
Gichugu (Muranga District) and Mathira (Nyeri District). Kikuyu. For more information please
The Kikuyu are clustered by age-sets. Like many tribes, contact the National African
the Kikuyu base their organization on the family unit
(nyumba). Several families are combined to form a Language Resource Center, or check
homestead (mucii), which is part of a sub-group (mbari). the NARLC website at http://
These make up the nine clans (muhiriga). The muhiriga www.nalrc.indiana.edu
further belonged to an even larger unit called Riika. After
initiation into adulthood, men became warriors while
women tended the farms and looked after the homesteads. Boston University
Michigan State University
The Kikuyu are traditionally agriculturalists and keep
livestock–they are well-favored by the fertile soils and
climate to the south and west of Mt Kenya, Africa’s second
highest mountain. Although agriculture remains of
paramount importance, many Kikuyu are involved in
business, and work in towns and cities throughout the
country.
The Kikuyu are known for their key participation in

Kenya’s liberation struggle. Key players in the struggle
included Jomo Kenyatta, Harry Thuku, and Dedan
Kimathi to mention just a few. They were instrumental in
achieving independence from Britain and formed Kenya’s
first post colonial Government.
National African
Language Resource
Center (NALRC)
Room 3075, Hamilton Lugar
School of Global and International Studies
A KIKUYU DANCER
355 N. Eagleson Ave., Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: (812) 856-4199 | Email: nalrc@iu.edu National African Language
Website: http://www.nalrc.indiana.edu Resource Center (NALRC)
Why Study KIKUYU? Who Speaks KIKUYU?
Kikuyu, sometimes also known as Gikuyu is spoken by 22% of
Kenya’s population, which is approximately 7 million people. It
Peopl e and History
is the most dominant language in Kenya second only to The Kikuyu (sometimes Gikuyu) are the people who
Swahili, which is the National language. The rich history of speak Kikuyu language and is Kenya’s largest ethnic
the Kikuyu people and especially their dominance in the group numbering approximately 6 to 7 million people.
struggle for Kenya’s independence has aroused the interests of
The Kikuyu are Bantus and actually came into central
many students who have heard names of statesmen like Jomo
Kenyatta and movements that led in Kenya’s liberation struggle
Kenya during the Bantu Migration. Kikuyu is thus one
from Britain like Mau Mau. of the 5 languages of the Thagicu subgroup of the Bantu
that stretches from Kenya to Tanzania. The Kikuyu
In the field of linguistics and literature, Kikuyu is one of the usually identify their land by the surrounding Mountain Picking tea on the central Kenya highlands.
most written languages in Kenya. It has been promoted ranges in Central Kenya which they call ‘Kirinyaga’ - The
through music, newspapers such as Inooro and journals such as Shining Mountain.
Mutiiri. Efforts to preserve the Kikuyu language have been
done by great African writers like Professor Ngugi wa Thiongo Folklore suggests that the Kikuyu tribe was originally
who stated in his book “Decolonizing the Mind” that he would founded by a man named Gikuyu. Oral tradition
write all his creative works in K ikuyu. Another great fiction
explains that Ngai (the divine spirit) took Gikuyu to
writer who has played a big role to preserve the Kikuyu
language is Gakaara Wanjau.
the top of Kirinyaga (present day Mt. Kenya) and
commanded him to establish his home there. He
One of the reasons for the study of the Kikuyu language is a was also given a wife Mumbi with whom he had
personal interest in dominant East African cultures of which nine daughters. It is from the nine daughters (and
Kikuyu is one of them. occasionally a tenth) that the nine principal clans
originated. The nine clans are Achera, Agachiku,
Another reason for the study of Kikuyu is that Kenya is a great Airimu, Ambui, Angare, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga, and
tourist destination. Kenya is annually flooded with tourists Aitherandu. The Kikuyu also had a religious tree–
from all over the world. Thus, if one plans to visit central
the Mugumo tree–where they would pray and offer
Kenya, which is a popular tourist destination because of Mount
Kenya and the Great Rift Valley, one would find it useful to
sacrifices to facing the sacred Mountain K irinyaga. A Kikuyu warrior in front of Thompson Falls in Central Kenya.
know the Kikuyu language because it is the native language The Kikuyu basically inhabit the fertile land around the
around that area. In addition, it would be an added advantage slopes of Mt. Kenya to the north of Nairobi. Today,
to have a grasp of the language because the Kikuyu people are however, because of their entrepreneurial abilities, the
spread all over the country because of their business orientation. Kikuyu people can be found virtually in all parts of
This means one is bound to encounter the language almost Kenya.
anywhere that business is thriving in the country.
Although the Kikuyu tribe has undergone a lot of
Knowledge in the Kikuyu language may also be very helpful to changes since the British arrived over a century ago, their
students in African Linguistics, Anthropology, and Sociology
sense of cultural identity has remained strong. The
who plan to conduct research in Kenya because it will allow
them to receive maximum collaboration with the locals.
Kikuyu have also been the most successful in adapting to
Moreover, international workers such as Peace Corps volunteers Kenya’s new economic and social realities. Moreover,
and missionaries will receive maximum cooperation from the the Kikuyu are known throughout Kenya as hard
local populations in central Kenya if they can communicate in workers and good money managers. Today, they are
Kikuyu. easily Kenya’s wealthiest people, and own a majority of
the nation’s businesses. Kikuyu girls.

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KIKUYU

Language & Culture Studying KIKUYU

The Kikuyu are known for their key participation in

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