Kikuyu Creation Myth, collected by Rose Mwangi

The power that wields the instruments of life and death was mostly associated with Ngai (God) who
lived at Kirinyaga (Mount Kenya)... Through him the Kikuyu justify their existence:
"In the beginning Ngai, who is the God and the divider or the universe, called Gikuyu the father of
the tribe. Ngai gave Gikuyu a share of his land with rivers, valleys, forests rich with fruits and animals
of all types. Then Ngai went to stay on Kirinyaga.
Now Ngai used to go round inspecting and admiring the beautiful earth.
'One day He took Gikuyu on top of Kirinyaga. It was on the highest point of the mountain. He
showed Gikuyu a spot in the centre of the country where there were many mugumo (wild fig) trees.
Gikuyu saw that the land was very beautiful. And Ngai said to Gikuyu, 'Go. Build your homestead on
that spot with mugumo trees,' and he called the selected place where the mugumo trees grew
Mukurwe wa Gathanga.
Then Ngai said: 'You will at times be in need of my help, when the time arises, slaughter a goat for
sacrifice, then raise your hands towards Kirinyaga and Ngai or Kirinyaga and Gikuyu will come to your
help.'
Gikuyu went to the chosen spot. Here he found a beautiful woman whom he took to wife. He named
her Mumbi (Moulder or Creator). They had nine daughters - they did not have any sons. Now Gikuyu
went to Ngai and said that he wanted sons to marry his daughters. Ngai said: "Go, take a lamb and a
kid. Kill these under the big mugumo tree near the homestead and the blood and the fat pour them on
the trunk of the tree. Let the family make a big fire under the tree. The meat will burn as a sacrifice to
Ngai or Gikuyu. When you take your wife and daughters home, go back alone to the mugumo tree.
There you will find nine very handsome men who are willing to marry your daughters. Then your
people will increase and multiply and fill all the land."

Suk (Western Kenya)

The Suk once had a great reputation as fierce warriors, beating even the dreaded Maasai-Samburu in
c. 1850. The Suk are the first branch of the Kalenjin family of tribes to leave their original homeland of
Mount Elgon's slopes. Originally only hunters, the Suk now herd cattle in Kerio Valley, living in peace
with their neighbours if they can.
They believe in God, whom they call Tororut, offering him animal sacrifices. God's son is called Ilat; he
has to fetch water for his father in Heaven. When he spills it, it rains on earth (ilat means 'rain').
Tororut's blessing must be invoked at least once a year for the crops and the cattle. An ox is selected
by the priest, tusin, to be slaughtered; he rubs its blood on the chests of the participants, all men. In
times of drought, famine or epidemic, similar rituals are necessary, to propitiate God. Personal illness
is blamed on Oi, the spirit of disease, who may be expelled by emptying the sick man's house, after
which the priest casts the evil spirit out, since it has nothing left to lurk behind inside. Tororut has a
wife, the Pleiades, and a brother, Asis, the Sun-god. Tororut's wife Seta has three children, Ilat, 'Rai',
Arawa, 'Moon', and Topoh, the 'Evening Star'. The appearance of the Pleiades marks the beginning of
the planting season.
After death, a man's spirit may travel in the shape of a snake. In the bush, snakes may be killed, but
if a snake enters a house, it must be given milk and meat since it is the spirit of an ancestor who can
intercede with God on behalf of the living, in order to avert disease and other disasters. After death an
old man or woman would be buried in his or her own hut, after which the descendants would move
house; this was no hardship, since they were nomads anyway. Death 'infects' a house. The bereaved
shave their heads, but when the New Moon appears, mourning ceases.

the Kikuyu Tribe

Mythology Supernatural Figures

Ngai: The ruler and creator of the universe and everything in it.
Riua: The king of the Earth Gikuyu: The father of the tribe.
Thiga Wa Wairumbi: Said to have recieved messages from God.
Mumbi: Wife of Gikuyu and mother of the nine daughters. Ngai created the first man, Gikuyu, and everything else int he
universe.
Gikuyu slaughtered a lamb as an offering and was given a wife, Mumbi.
He had nine daughters.
He slaughtered another goat and was given nine handsome men.
They married his daughters and had children, thus the tribe began to grow. A tribe was unhappy because of the death of the
cheif's son.
They sent the squirrel to get a medicine that prevents death.
The squirrel was stopped by Mr. Hyena and lost the powder.
The squirrel was cursed to live under the soil (meercat).
Mr. Hyena became a enemy of the people (explaining his menacing ways) Parental Responsibility
Vitality of God There was a great drought that killed all cows and goats.
The Kikuyu knew they were next.
They called for the sacrifice of the beautiful Wanjiru.
She went to the river and sang, and it began to rain.
The rain covered her and she went into the afterlife.
She asked for cows and goats.
She was sent back to her people with the animals. Creation Myth
Ngai created the universe
Ngai then created Gikuyu.
Gikuyu sacrificed a lamb and he was given his wife, Mumbi.
They had nine daughters.
Gikuyu sacrificed a lamb and a kid, and was given nine handsome men to marry his daughters.
The tribe grew from there.

Literal Geography
Mount Kenya
Rivers
Grassland
Fig trees Kirinyaga: Home to Ngai on Earth.
Great fig trees: Housing for spirits.
Lakes: Places of great evil. Cultural Influence
Sacrificed under fig trees as a tradition because they believe that figs are connections to Ngai.
Belief Influence
They beleived Ngai and Riua lived on Mount Kenya. Apocalyptic Myth
A man was married to a beautiful woman.
He was not supposed to as about her family.
He asked about her family years later, thinking it would not matter.
Then, the spirits of her ancestors came from Mount Kenya and brought a terrible storm.
The people took cover in the caves.
The storm passed and the land was peaceful, but the man and his wife were taking back to Mount Kenya Mount. Kenya
Great Fig Trees
Lakes
Rivers:
Nairobi River
Naro Moru River Family Responsibility
Marriage Family Structure of Kenya (extended family)
Mutual assistance, mutual effort, mutual responsibility and community self-reliance are what makeup the group orientation in the
Kenyan culture. Fiddle (invented by Kikuyu)
Today, many literary works consist of orature from the Kikuyus.
The Kikuyu created the pentatonic scale, which is used for modern guitar soloing. Mt. Kenya Primitive Fiddle Humans Mythical
Geography Creation Myth Influence of Geography Cultural Values from Figures Aspects of Mythology Alluded To Cultural
Impact through Arts and Literature Literal Geography Flood Myth Explanatory Myth Key Concerns of this Culture Gikuyu and
Ngai