Africa is known as the “cradle of
humanity” because of the theory that the first human beings lived in Africa at
the beginning of time.[1] Therefore, it comes as no
surprise that the African country of Kenya has a long, rich history filled with
many achievements, failures, conflicts, and resolutions. Kenya has developed a unique
sense of identity as a result of its history, characterized by rich and diverse
culture, diverse religious affiliations, economic growth and struggles, and
controversial political incidents.
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| https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenya_in_africa.png |
Because of the lack of written histories,
we rely on oral accounts to study early pre-colonial history of Kenya.[2] These early oral histories
often histories often had mythical elements, making them somewhat less reliable
than written history accounts.[3] However, these oral
histories give us better insight into the cultures of Kenya, as well as some of
the religious beliefs.
The Gikuyu, also called the Kikuyu, have a
myth of origin which was passed down orally through the generations.[4] The Gikuyu are the largest
ethnic group in Kenya. The Gikuyu origin myth claims that the god Mogai created
the first man named Gikuyu. Gikuyu and his wife Mumbi were the father and
mother of the human race. According to the myth, the Gikuyu group was named
after the first man. This supposed direct relation to the first man, is a
source of pride among the Gikuyu people.
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| Gikuyu Woman in ceremonial dress https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kikuyu_woman_in_traditional_costume.jpg |
Before the colonization of Kenya by Great Britain,
the area that is now Kenya was split up into many different ethnic and cultural
groups, the Gikuyus remaining as the largest throughout history.[5] The culture of these
groups included their worldviews, morals, attitudes, beliefs, and presuppositions.[6] Aspects of culture also
include religious beliefs. There were similarities between certain cultures in
Kenya. Because these groups had no formal boundaries, cultural traits, beliefs,
and traditions easily diffused from one ethnic group to another.[7] This all changed with the
institution of European colonialism.
During the 1880s, European countries such
as Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and Italy all took part
in the “Scramble for Africa."[8] The motives for this
European colonization varied from profit gains, to the attainment of land, to
religious reasons.[9]
At first the people of Kenya did not mind the increased interaction with the
Europeans. Trade with the Europeans stimulated the economy.[10] In addition, missionaries
provided welfare services, opened schools, and shared religious hope.[11]
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| Ethnic Groups in Kenya as of 2007 https://welections.wordpress.com/category/kenya/ |
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| Effects of Scramble for Africa https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scramble-for-Africa-1880-1913.png |
However, colonialism had negative effects
on the culture Kenya. Great Britain claimed Kenya as a protectorate of the
British East Africa Company in 1895.[12] In order to distinguish
the colonies under control of Great Britain from those of other European
nations, Great Britain created political borders with no regards to the Ethnic
groups of the area.[13] As a result, Ethnic
Groups were split apart.[14] In addition, the British
government split the different ethnic groups into tribes and created tribal
boundaries.[15]
These boundaries created further discord between groups and was not conducive
to the sharing of cultural aspects.
Relations between the indigenous people of
Kenya and the settlers of Great Britain continued to sour as Kenyans continued
to be under-represented in government even in the 1940s.[16] Two major points of
contention arose: the Kenyan’s need for secure, valuable representation
election by the Kenyan people, and the Europeans seizure of lands encroaching
on the land of Kenyan farmers.[17] Discords between anti-colonial
nationalists and colonial collaborators ensued.[18] The Mau Mau rebellion
broke out as an insurrection against British colonial rule in 1956.[19] This rebellion did not
end well for the people of Kenya as approximately 13,000 Kenyans were died.[20] The rebellion ceased in the
same year.
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| Fire Patrol during the Mau Mau Rebellion https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patrol_Kenya.jpg |
Following the rebellion, Great Britain
began to make moves to allow African majority rule. Finally, on December 12,
1963, Kenya gained its full independence from Great Britain in 1963.[21]
However, independence did not end the political
struggle. Insurgencies under the government continued to take place as the
power struggle continued between the different parties. Finally, after much
tension over political power and land rights, in 2009 a new constitution was
drafted.[22]
On August 27, 2012, the beginning of Kenya’s “Second Republic” showed the promise
of a brighter future of freedom and opportunity in store for Kenya.[23]
Though Kenya has been through many struggles throughout the years, it has achieved its place as a successful African country. Despite divisions of culture, political instability at times, and intermediate economic hardships, Kenya has been unified as a country with a unique national identity and fascinating history.
[1]
Joseph O. Vogel and Jean Vogel, Encyclopedia
of Precolonial Africa: Archaeology, History, Languages, Cultures, and
Environments (Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 1997), 52.
[2]
John Middleton, Encyclopedia
of Africa: South of the Sahara Vol. 2 (New York: Scribner, 1997), 300.
[3]
Ibid.
[4]
Stephen Paterson Belcher, African Myths
of Origin (London: Penguin, 2005), 159-161.
[5]
Middleton, Encyclopedia of Africa: South of the
Sahara Vol. 2,
432.
[6]
Kidane Mengisteab and Redie Bereketeab, eds., Regional Integration, Identity and Citizenship in the Greater Horn of
Africa (Woodbridge: James Currey, 2012), 6.
[7]
Middleton, Encyclopedia of Africa: South of the
Sahara Vol. 2,
433.
[8]
John Parker and Richard J. Reid, eds., The
Oxford Handbook of Modern History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013),
152.
[9]
Ibid., 152-153.
[10]
R. Mugo Gatheru, Kenya
from Colonization to Independence, 1888-1970 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co, 2005), 7.
[11]
Parker, The Oxford Handbook of Modern
History, 157.
[12]
Middleton, Encyclopedia of Africa: South of the
Sahara Vol. 2,
429.
[13]
Ibid., 431.
[14]
Ibid., 432.
[15]
Ibid., 433.
[16]
David Anderson, Histories of the Hanged:
The Dirty War in Kenya and the End of Empire (New York: W. W. Norton &
Co, 2005), 9.
[17]
Ibid., 10.
[18]
Ibid.
[19]
Middleton, Encyclopedia of Africa: South of the
Sahara Vol. 2,
430.
[20]
Ibid.
[21]
Ibid.
[22]
Charles Hornsby, Kenya a History since
Independence (New York: I.B. Tauris, 2012), 777, accessed October 16, 2015,
ProQuest Ebrary.
[23]
Ibid., 780.
