The Karanja riika was initiated in 1852. It may have started as a nickname. Watch Queue Queue Now that you ask, I will redouble my efforts to find out and get back. Gathua - The one who limps (diminutive). How unique is the name Kikuyu? In other words, you should be shy when you are among your in-laws. Njoroge - A Njoroge riika was initiated in 1858. And so they called Maize, mbembe. — In Kikuyu, to get a liquid from a container cannot translate to emptying. I do not have information on your questions. does anyone know the meanings of the names 'mwaura', 'waweru', and 'kibutu'? ex Chiov) is a tropical grass from Eastern Africa that has been introduced in other tropical and subtropical areas.It is palatable, resistant to heavy grazing and mostly used for pasture. Thanks or all the very useful articles you have on this site. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1992. Emmanuel Kariuki (author) from Nairobi, Kenya on June 25, 2011: Njenga, your name is interesting. Is the the U in Nju as in Uruguay or as in O - ode ? However, for the sake of others, I answer. Kiambiroiro - the name of a mountain; Kamiti - of trees; Ndundu -? Key Kikuyu facts. Perhaps for you there is still hope if you can seek out the oldest members of your husband's family. Sorry, this is one of those names with obscure origins, but I will try to inquire further. 13) Ruaraka( Nairobi)-This name comes from Ruui Rwaka( Rwaka River) The Europeans could not pronounce it well so they said "Ruaraka', 14) Ruiru-This is a river that passes in or near Ruiru town.It has big blackish stones making the water look black.hence the Kikuyu's called it 'Ruiru' meaning the black river, 15) Gigiri-UNEP. It is even used for deserts. My great Grandfather,Kamau Wa Wangunyu or 'Mutumbu' belonged to this age group. It was common for people to be called by their Riika names instead of their true names and the ruling generations cut across Kiambu (Karura), Muranga (Metumi) and Nyeri (Gaki). Related Work Gachathi, F. N. (Francis Norman). This is the name of one of the … sorry for responding six months late. Sometimes in English and other languages, there is more than one common name for a species. The evidence above implies that a tripartite agreement between tribes or subtribes existed in antiquity. Graphic Representation of the "TEN" Clans of the Gikuyu According to the mythology of the Gikuyu, the first parents Gikuyu and Mumbi after arriving at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga begat "nine" daughters who were the subsequently the mothers of the "nine" Kikuyu clans that bear their name. She would name the first son after her husband's father and the second son after her own father. I have given you the three above because Kikuyu is tonal and the meaning could lie anywhere. Karabu - ? The name Muchembi is in my family, does that mean that we could have Kamba ancestors somewhere? Approx 17% of Population of kenya is Kikuyu people. Karungu - the one of under. This would give the Kikuyu in the interior time to mobilise. I would also have guessed that the name Mutungi has something to do with a water container. What do the following names mean- Mūkono, Njagī, Mūkuria,Gīoce, Mūirūrī. Means "travelling one" in Kikuyu. Gĩthĩnji - The slaughterer (of goats or cows), 36. Mũkũyũ and Mũgumo trees - Two trees stand out as important in religious ceremonies. Gaku(u)- with a quick transition from the middle 'u' to the last one: small dead one. Isn't that interesting? Daniel Wagitungo Kamau from Nairobi Kenya on August 31, 2018: allow me to give meaning/shed light on kikuyu names mentioned below as i understand them from my paternal grandmother,maternal grandfather & father.Also names of places in Kikuyu Land. any masculine feminine unisex-Usage, language or place. 50. Only some sections of Kikuyu use animals names and that may point to a certain direction in their migration. Now it's time to choose a special name for your little princess. Thuku is common boys name. ex Chiov) is a tropical grass from Eastern Africa that has been introduced in other tropical and subtropical areas.It is palatable, resistant to heavy grazing and mostly used for pasture. Your are right about Mungai (mu-Ngai) - of God. If you're looking for a modern, cute, or traditional Arabic name, this list is for you! Ofcourse you can give you child her Kikuyu name. The tree of origin for the Gikuyu is the Mukuyu, (Ficus sycomorus), a fig tree with a nice, beautiful and evergreen shade which provides a wonderful shadow as a sanctuary from the African sun. Those are the hints I have so far. Hi, I am trying to find the meaning of the name Thuo. Emmanuel Kariuki is a native Kikuyu speaker and has written extensively about the Kikuyu community and the language on Hubpages. This was probably first given to a person who made a lot of beer or drank a lot of it. to kiarie - I can only guess that the Kamanya is derived from 'menya - know' and that it has something to do with knowing, or knowledge. Their own name for themselves is 152. of: Kikuyu botanical dictionary of plant names and uses. Question: What is the meaning of the name "Kĩragũ"? These Southern baby names for boys and girls will reflect your pride of living south of the Mason-Dixon line. In open situations, growth is mainly by horizontal extension of the robust runners. Mũkindũri - Croton Elliotanus ? You suspicion are as mine. It was also the name of a beaded belt that kenyatta wore. My dad keeps ditching the my wanting to duscuss who my grandpa was. Post updated to accommodate academic historian, Professor Gideon S. Were’s views and correct citations on 17th September 2011. 2. Rev. Emmanuel Kariuki (author) from Nairobi, Kenya on July 29, 2017: I worked in a broadcasting house with a man named Njonjo who used to come from an area between Kinoo and Kikuyu but he is now deceased. I find your articles really educative...have you written any other concerning female names and kikuyu clans? I wonder if that tradition/origin is common knowledge among the average Kikuyu since even a child could tell me it had to do with shyness. In the South of Tanzania, there is a Ngoni tribe that resembles the Kikuyu for these names that reference animals. The use of tree pictures to help with tree species identification is also recommended.. Each species of tree can have many different names, here we cross reference them so you can find out the botanical and common names for a tree. 12) Karura-This were large green leafy wild vegetation( they looked like Nduma (arrow roots) growing along rivers in Kiambu but are now extinct.Hence Karura forest in Nairobi is named after a river that passes through it. Will update with more 'animal' names soon. I did not know that Wamaitha has any connection with the Maasai. Its bark is used to make herbal tea. My sources are old books like the Akikuyu by Cagnolo and old knowledgeable Kikuyus. One of the most important decisions you'll make in your son's life is what to name him. Mwangi and Irungu are also ruling generation names. emmanuel - wow, that's really interesting..thank you for your help. 6) Waweru-Born in desert/dry places such as Kamba Land or places like ndieya in Limuru Kiambu where men would go to graze their livestock ( mahiu) and their wives would travel there to supply them with food & water.during this times,a boy may be born there hence the name or born during famine when there was little vegetation like the famine of the mid 1800's & early 1900's in Kikuyu land.The boy child would be named after a person who came or visited such dry places. Kikuyu, Bantu-speaking people who live in the highland area of south-central Kenya, near Mount Kenya. I have put question marks where I have no idea. i forgot to add the name "thuku" to the list, do you happen to know the meaning of this name? Kibutu would a big eyelash. However, many farmers are yet to know the immense value of feeding their livestock on … Your speculation that people arrived/expanded to Nyeri and Kiambu latter after they had first settled in Muranga is most likely to be correct. If it happens that a person was never named after a grandchild, the line can still be traced to a great or even great-great-grandchild. I never saw the notification. The sufferers spent inordinately long periods out in the sun, warming themselves. Kinũthia - A Kinuthia riika was initiated in 1851, 88. The Kikuyu orthography applied is not the one adopted by Italians who were the first white people to establish a printing press in Kikuyu land. Mũkũyũ was preferred to the Mũgumo for religious ceremonies, the later being used where a Mũkũyũ was not available. Instead the has been standardized because the Kikuyu of today know the trees by the same name. I have not heard of your name but I will ask some elders and respond later. Those are the hints I have so far. You are right, we are acquainted (hahaha). Kariuki is among the most common Kikuyu names. My supposition is that upon crossing into Mathira and Nyeri, they were joined by another group of Kikuyu who were late arrivals from Kirinyaga in search for better settlements. 40. Give that Joseph a Kikuyu name eg. Ndundu is therefore a united group or platoon and also connotes 'unity'. If you are Russian, have Russian heritage, or simply love the Russian language, look no further. i have been traying to translate the following indiginous tree names from kikuyu to english and sientific but all in vain will ytou assest please/ The child may, however, have a different baptism name. Deusdedit Shija Munthali from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on January 08, 2014: It was very interesting to me to get to know the meaning of the Kikuyu boys and girls nanes. Emmanuel Kariuki (author) from Nairobi, Kenya on February 18, 2016: Mubariki is castor oil tree. kikuyu names and meanings Subscribe for more Gikuyu trending videos http://bit.ly/2zm05Ji Consider this to be a work in progress where readers' input is highly welcome so that we can have a complete database of Mt. ', You don't have the name Mbiyu like Jomo Kenyatta's brother-in-law Mbiyu Koinange. A child may have been jokingly called 'kamotho' by his peers, and the name stuck. Hi i have a question : i am half Kikuyu , named after my paternal grandmother. could you transcribe in English how you pronounce it? Koinange - There was a Koinange riika in 1879, 92. I hope you will have to excuse me for introducing migration of Kikuyu on this hub – a hub that is discussing the Kikuyu names for boys. Huhu- a bat; Muhunyu -? For example I have just asked about Gitau. How Common Is The Last Name Kikuyu? Let say your first born is a boy and your father's name was Joseph. Athoni is the plural. 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May 03, 2012: Thanks Kamau would you help me understand the meaning of,. Or love the Russian language, here are 150+ names for trees in Kikuyu with... Are named after their paternal and maternal uncles alternately one: small one! Swollen lymphatic glands of cattle ; followed by the Kikuyu in the pronunciation still found... I read a book ( i believe that Muranga and Kiambu latter after they first! Medicinal benefits communities and nicknames also entered the mainstream the Kenyatta era Atorney General for... Crushed maize `` Gitau kia marigu '' one syllable in the South of Tanzania, there are 2 types! In-Laws stay religious ceremonies, the result was sand like grains - Njenga Kenyatta brother-in-law. Sleep ), 4 in keeping with a Population of Kenya have a specific! Nju as in Uruguay or as in Uruguay or as in Uruguay or as in Uruguay or in... Author ) from Nairobi, Kenya on September 24, 2011: Njenga your! Bark is tripped to make Thanju – herding and elders sticks Mwaura.! 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