The Power of Oral Tradition in Kenya’s Gikuyu Tribe
This month’s issue had me reflect on the value of stories, lessons, and practices passed down within families and cultures, particularly through women’s conversations. These “wives’ tales” can transcend the passage of time and nurture a legacy of profound, and at times eccentric traditions, that generations of people live their lives internalizing. When thinking of some of the wives tales told to me when I was younger, many stemmed from my grandmother, who, coming from an Irish Catholic background, has a plethora of tips and tricks passed down through the women of our bloodline; some of which I still use today. It wasn’t until I was hosting a dinner party for friendsgiving and burnt my wrist on a pan that I thought of the age-old trick of applying butter to my burn. Some of my friends were confused by this; what I considered a common home remedy turned out to be a folk myth. Despite its inefficiency in treating burns, something I discovered later on, I still felt an obligation to uphold this tradition of treating my burn like my grandmother would when I was a little girl.
I reflected on this deep respect for familial tradition and heritage while exploring matrilineages around the world, specifically in Africa. The Kikuyu tribe in Central Kenya situates itself as a prime example of female influence embedded in the everyday social norms of a community. This tribe entertains a rich legacy of honouring mothers and wives, with due emphasis placed on the creation story of this group. It is believed that Mumbi (Creator of the Universe) offered nine daughters to Kikuyu, placing them at the head of the tribe, to serve as leaders, administrators and familial authoritative figures. This unconventional system of matriarchal dominance is the very foundation of this community, despite its eventual transition to a patriarchy. This critical cultural story has woven its way into every aspect of social dynamics within the community, serving as a cornerstone of female presence and dignity through the practice of oral storytelling and omnipresent customs passed down through the females of each generation.
“Wives’ Tales,” while serving as funny traditions, stories or even as home burn remedies, can be interpreted as so much more. Without their presence in various cultures around the world, years of tradition and cultural traditions are lost, or remain unexplained. Remaining curious about the origin of these stories can enlighten centuries-old social practices. The stories of our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers demonstrate lineages of struggle, gender dynamicism, and can even serve to explain the origins of culture, such as Mother Nature, and the women of the Kikuyu Kenyan tribe demonstrate best.