Howdy Freewriters😀. What a best time it is to let you in on my origin, thanks to the prompt. I hope you like the read. Welcome to my blog😊.
I hail from the Agikuyu, the largest ethnic group in Kenya. We are the descendants of the Bantu people. Although Kenya is our homeland, our deep ancestral roots trace back to what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, from where our anscestors migrated. We are largely concentrated in what was historically known as Central Province of Kenya, today referred to as the Mount Kenya region - or, as the Gen Z calls it, Murima (meaning mountain).
Our language, just as our ethnic name suggests, is Gikuyu - also known as Kikuyu. It is closely related, with only slight variations, to the languages of other Bantu speakers especially the Akamba, Ameru and the Aembu. Before Christianity came to reign in Kenya, we prayed to Ngai, also known as Mwene Nyaga (Owner of Kirinyaga), God of the mountain, on the foot of Kirinyaga, now known as Mount Kenya. Our intercessors still gather to pray at the foot of Mount Kenya, honoring the sacred connection between the mountain and Ngai.
Our staple food is mukimo, a blend of maize, beans, potatoes, amd greens that gives it a rich green color. Our famous brew is muratina, a kind of fermented beer with a taste reminiscent of honey, traditionally prepared using the fruit of muratina tree and honey. It is consumed mostly during rituals and social events, like weddings, dowry negotiations, among others. And like other ethnic groups, we thrive in music too, with our signature style known as Mugithi.
Thank you for reading.
Image generated with AI.