The Mbeere Community of Kenya

Ngai at the top of Mount Kenya

The Mbeere believed that God (Ngai) lived on Mount Kenya, and that He created man and earth. The Mbeere offered sacrifices to secure his blessing for rain and livestock.

Second largest producers of miraa

Today the Mbeere grow crops such as mangoes, melons, pawpaw, passion fruits, maize, beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, black peas (njavi), millet, sorghum, etc. They are the second largest producers of miraa, a cash crop also grown by the Ameru.

Ciondo and mikanda

Other traditional economic activities included basket (ciondo) and rope (mikanda) making, and rearing animals such as cows and goats.

Weaving baskets for trade

Mugaa tree fiber was used for weaving baskets (ciondos). The thread was cut, boiled in a pot, dried in the sun, rolled into strings and weaved into baskets.

Council of elders

The council of elders were responsible for ensuring law and order, decision-making, ritual oath taking, religion, and administration. Warriors of each territorial area had their council of elders (Kiama) for the different territorial unit.

Initiation and marriage rites

The Mbeere circumcised both boys and girls at puberty. This act was an important rite which marked a transition from childhood to adulthood, characterized by a ceremony and celebration.

Beyond childhood, boys and girls had to acquire status through merit of bravery, endurance, and self-control by enduring the pain associated with the cut (circumcision). After initiation, girls were considered women ready for marriage, and boys considered men ready to become warriors.

In Kenya today, female circumcision is illegal and communities are encouraged to adopt alternative initiation practices.

Traditional circumcision knives

Male and female circumcisers used these circumcision knives. One knife has five loops indicating that the children were brothers and sisters. The knife with four circles was for the girl, as she would have been secluded for four days after the operation; the knife with five circles was for the boy, who would have been secluded for five days.

A four looped knife was used to circumcise the eldest daughter. Six looped knives were used on the second daughter, and seven looped knives for each succeeding daughter. These last knives were considered lucky, and it was believed that a girl circumcised by one would have seven children, including one or two boys.

Becoming a warrior

Becoming a warrior also required several stages of endurance. Depicted here is a Mbeere warrior wearing ceremonial attire. He wears ostrich feather headgear to indicate his status, and his body is painted with white ochre.

Ready for marriage

Men had to be warriors and complete military training before considering marriage. Marriage was considered a highly respected institution that marked the union of man and woman. Traditionally bride-wealth was negotiated and paid in the form of livestock.

A snake above the door

A python snake was placed above the door of a medicine man's house, indicating his status as someone powerful and dangerous.

The primary apparatus of the medicine men consisted of a series of gourds, animal horns and charms.

Traditional medicine

The medicine man would use trees (roots, leaves, barks, stem or fruits), herbs, animal products (fur or animal fat) and geological materials (soils and rocks). The herbs were normally boiled, sap extracted, burnt into ash, ground into powder, or chewed in its raw form.

A medicine woman's gourd

This decorated gourd contains white powder (Ira) that was used in the past to cure illnesses. The gourd was cut from a plant and the stopper made from a twig by the medicine woman.

The Mbeere drum to find love

This long and narrow cylindrical drum was made of wood cut from Mukaau (Melia Volkensii Guire) tree using an axe. The top is covered with goat skin.

The drum was used by young unmarried men when dancing the traditional Mwinziro dance. Apart from entertainment, the dance was also meant to show off a man's ability to play the drum to attract girls. When married, the drum was passed to other unmarried men in pursuit of love.

Traditional attire for dancing

A young Mbeere man in dancing attire complete with bows and arrows.