Tharaka-Nithi Cultural FestivalNational Museums of Kenya
Meet the Tharaka
The Tharaka are a Bantu-speaking ethnic community in Kenya, whose social structure was traditionally based on a clan system. The historical origin of the Tharaka is enshrined in the Ameru legends and folklore, most notably the legend of a person called Kibuka.
Tharaka Apprentice Circumciser by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya
The power of Kibiku
According to legend, Kibuka was the Tharaka’s spiritual leader – a medicine man, diviner and rain maker. During wartime, he provided the Tharaka warriors with charms to protect them from enemies during combat.
Tharaka Warrior by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya
Kibiku's eldest son led the Tharaka battalions in every war. In several instances the son was killed, but was resurrected each time by the power of the charms that his father had marked on his abdomen.
HornNational Museums of Kenya
The magic horn
One time, a Tharaka traitor revealed to the enemy the power of the charm on the son’s abdomen. When the enemy killed him, they gouged out the charm from the abdomen, killing him completely. That charm was a magic horn (rugoci).
The murder of his son enraged Kibuka so greatly that he cursed the Tharaka and left his residence, a shrine. That shrine is said to be located near Kibuka Primary School in Tunyai, Tharaka County.
Tharaka Medicine man by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya
Witch doctors
The Tharaka believed in the power of witch doctors, who were considered elite and believed to possess knowledge of medicines and spiritual matters. People would come to them to foretell the future, and for healing.
They also had the power to cause misfortune to others, which only another witch could cure. The primary apparatus of the witch doctor consisted of gourds/calabashes, roots, barks and leaves, cow horns, charm ornaments, totems of snail and sea shells, and the fly whisk.
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