Browsing by Author "Murtithi Wachira, Joseph"

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    The UpsUrgence of the Gikuyu Traditional Religion: A Case Study on the Mungiki Movement
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02) Murtithi Wachira, Joseph
    Two years ago, during my long holidays I was strolling in Karatina town, which is about half an hour, walk from my home. I had gone to visit a friend. In the evening, as he escorted me to the bus stop, we saw a huge gathering Many people who were wearing calico which were tightly tied with leather belts at the waist Maasai swords were inserted, tightly in the belts. They reared long braids, and were holding long staffi; under their armpits. Most of them were holding traditional Agikuyu tobacco on their palms and were occasionally sniffing it To me, and also to many people, judging from their facial expression, this was surely a strange gathering. For me the group fitted very well the description of the Mau Man as I had read and heard from older people. Many new sects have been holding crusades in the town, but surely, none resembled this one. One man in his 40's, using a loud speaker, was addressing the group. He called himself mwari wa rila which means, the one who lays the sitting skin (the Master of the Ceremony) As we deviated towards the group, he was calling the nftuna act Kithathi (warriors of Kimathi) to come in front and sing two songs. Young men who surrounded the congregation to provide security marched in front and arranged themselves in two rows. The soloist, taking the public addressing system from the Master of Ceremony, started a song. The young men attacked the first stanza energetically, dancing with their staffs in a rhythm. Several men, with digamba (jingles) tied on their right legs, accompanied the song. It was very moving. Women were dancing at the side and all the congregation participated, some dancing, and others only nodding their heads with the rhythm. But the contents of the song shocked us. The song was a scathing attack on Jesus Christ, Christianity, and belief in Christ The second song attacked the current Kenyan