What was the role of Mekatilili wa Menza?

Mekatilili wa Menza, writes Neil Carrier, was a Giriama woman who played a key role in inciting resistance against the British in the period 1912-1914, urging Giriama not to co-operate with attempts to recruit their men into wage labour.

What did Mekatilili wa Menza oppose?

Mekatilili led a rebellion against colonialist violence during the British occupation of her country. Mekatilili wa Menza was born in the Mutara wa Tsatsu Ganze village, Kilifi county, in the 1840s.

Where did Mekatilili wa Menza died?

Magarini, KenyaMekatilili Wa Menza / Place of deathMagarini Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kilifi County, Kenya. It is one of seven constituencies in the county and was formerly one of two constituencies in the now defunct Malindi District. The constituency has eight wards, all electing councillors for the Malindi County Council. Wikipedia

Who helped Mekatilili wa Menza?

This was not a particularly subtle piece of metaphor. Mekatilili ramped up efforts after that. With the aid of medicine men, particularly a fella named Wanje wa Madorika, she arranged a widely-attended meeting at a kaya, one of the traditional Giriama forest temples that the British had pooh-poohed.

Where did the Giriama come from?

The Giriama migrated from Shungwaya. Due to conflicts with Cushitic communities they migrated southwards into the present Kenya coastal region and settled in Kilifi County. Upon settlement they experienced conflict from other groups, especially nomadic pastoralists.

Did Mekatilili wa Menza have children?

She became Mekatilili after she got married and gave birth to a son Katilili, hence her name meant ‘mother of Katilili. ‘ She had four brothers, Nzai, Hare, Kithi, and Mwarandu, and one sister.

Who is Mepoho?

Mepoho was a Giriama woman who lived in the 13th century. The Giriama are a subgroup of the Mijikenda, or 9 villages, who largely reside along the the Kenyan Coast. Legend has it that, one chilly morning, Baby Mepoho was discovered beside a pond near Kaloleni by some women who had gone to fetch water.

What do Giriama call their god?

Mulungu
Historically the Giriama believed in a supernatural being, Mulungu (God).

Who are the Duruma people?

The Duruma are part of the Mijikenda community. They mostly settled in the Kwale County. They occupied semi-arid plains marked roughly by the triangle of Taru, Mazeras and Lunga Lunga on the Kenya-Tanzania border.

What are the nine Mijikenda tribes?

lThe Mijikenda, or “Nine Tribes” as they are sometimes known, comprise the Giriama, Chonyi, Jibana, Kambe, Ribe, Kauma, Rabai, Duruma and Digo. These names are here spelled, as is conventional, in the Swahili form.

What tribe is Taita?

The Taita tribe (also called Wataita) is a Kenyan tribe that is located in the Taita-Taveta District. They speak Taita which belongs to the Bantu languages. The West-Bantu moved to the area of the Taita-Taveta district first approximately in 1000-1300 AD.

Is Digo a tribe?

The Digo are a Mijikenda community, who traditionally lived between Mombasa and the Kenyan Tanzanian border. They speak the Chidigo language. The Mijikenda are a Coastal Bantu community. They inhabit the region from the Tanzania border to the Sabaki and the Umba rivers.