Wangu Wa Makeri: The Fiery Chieftess (Kikuyu community)

Wangu wa Makeri was a community chief, known as Headman, during the British colonial period in Kenya. She was the only female Kikuyu Headman during the period, who later resigned following a scandal because she engaged in a dance called Kibata.

Wangu wa Makeri was born around 1856 in Murang’a. She had no formal education; instead she worked on her parent’s farm as a labourer. It was there that she met her husband, Makeri wa Mbogo. Together, they raised six children. Later it is said that she entered into a relationship with Karuri wa Gakure, after he stopped by occasion in her village and stayed with the family. Gakure was an elder of repute with over 60 wives and he was the Paramount Chief of Fort Hall (today known as Murang’a).

When her husband learnt about this, Gakure offered him the position of Headman, probably to appease and silence him, but he declined. Gakure then offered the position to Makeri and she accepted. This was in 1902; a time when the position of Headman was exclusively male-only. Makeri became the first and only female headman of the Kikuyu during the whole of the British colonial period. By this time the British colonial authorities had begun a taxation system, enforced by locals.

Wangu acted as the go-between for the Kikuyu and these authorities, under which she became a controversial figure to her people. She was later described as an authoritarian tax collector, who would intimidate tax evaders and imprison them in solitary confinement. Wangu would use these people as seats, sitting on their backs as they knelt.

Her downfall when it came was spectacular. It sent shockwaves to the entire district. Records are not clear on the exact date that Wangu fell from glory but it is said that a meeting held between 2nd and 4th June, 1909 sealed her fate and forced her to bow out.

Before the meeting, Wangu had committed the ultimate insult against tradition and her colonial office after she allegedly danced Kibata, an exclusive adult male dance, naked. Various theories have been advanced explaining the circumstances that led to her dancing but all agree that she had challenged tradition when she joined the male warriors in a dance. Some theorists claim that Gakure joined the warriors who were engrossed in the dance.

On seeing her hero and lover dancing with youth and vigour, Wangu threw caution to the wind, discarding some of her clothing as she provocatively danced clutching Gakure. Another explanation said that, before she joined the dancers, some men adjusted her ceremonial sword tied to the waist alongside her Muthuru (traditional skirt). The sword cut the strings of her Muthuru, which flopped to the ground as Wangu jumped ecstatically, exposing her nakedness.
She was forced to resign from office.

Bonus Information:
Murang’a is a picturesque and fast growing town with rich natural and cultural history. The place was formerly known as Mbiri. Later with the settlement of the British colonial administrators, a certain Francis Hall built a fort in the town, and the place was effectively known as Fort Hall. Today it called Murang’a. One of the most significant cultural sites in Murang’a is the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga. The site requires regular rehabilitation to preserve it. It is important to safeguard our cultural sites for the posterity of future generations.