If we care to look there’s beauty & history in words & names. In my community each year (known by the passing of mbura ya njahi & mbura ya mwere) boys would transition to warrior age. Each age group (Rika) would receive a unique name. In these names lies a whole history. A Thread 
Before the 1900’s most age groups were the usual Agikuyu male names such as Mwaura, Ngugi and Ngaruiya. But in 1870 a curious disease landed and it wrought a devastation so severe it rocked the community. This was Smallpox and that year Rika ria Mutung’u was initiated.
Eighteen years later another disease - typified by itchy scaly skin gave us Rika ria Uhere followed by Dysentry- Ruharo (1892), Jiggers -Ndutu(1897), Syphilis - Gatego (1901). Each wave from Europe whether missionaries,slavers,traders or settlers brought new unfamiliar diseases.
Of note 1892 had another name - Unubi which signaled the first deep interaction between the Agikuyu and Nubians who many Europeans engaged as they sought new trade and mission locations. One can only surmise the Nubians outnumbered the Europeans and thus made more of an impact.
1889 was the first locust invasion in living memorized history and so the nasty little critter got recognition as rika ria Ngigi.
Famines wrought devastation in our communities as periods of untold hardship, starvation and death. 1900, 1911, 1918, 1934 and 1943 go down as dark periods with various Ng’aragu.
1919 was another year typified by disease .. a strange flu. Sound familiar? Rika ria Kimiiri.
Now things really started to get interesting with the entrenchment of imported ideas - 1920 - Kibande - Identity document, 1921 - Munanda - Cattle Dip and 1923 Chiringi - Shilling. These were the things that defined our evolving land.
In 1927 a curious sight was witnessed, bigger than a bird, louder than anything ever heard before and surprisingly flown by a person. Rika ria Ndege ya Mbere - the first aeroplane. Aptly folllowed in 1928 by ndege ya thutha when the next one was sighted 😂
A major earthquake shook the land in 1929 and gave us rika ria Githingithia. Gerrrrit??
Notable innovations found their way with Kanyui - Razor Blade in 1931, Tauru - 1935 which every new mother just had to have to wrap a newborn in .. Kenya Bathi in 1936 and College in 1939.
Showing how influential global politics was even back then 1939 was also known as rika ria Hitira.
Then it seems with the war years young men brought back with them new ways of living life to the fullest cos 1941,42 and 44 were all named for dances modeled after the fox trot, tango and waltz 🤷🏾♀️
1945 was the year of weed apparently ?? BhangiTings
Going through this list curated by my Dad was an education and reminder that history is living and real; and in our oral tradition history is preserved in the everyday, not in a museum. Given where we are, it’s likely that those initiated to anake in 2020 will be rika ria Corona.
Let it never be said that because our history was not written, it was not recorded, or that it didn’t happen. It’s all around is if one cares to look. With that, I’m curious what’s your #AfricanHistory story?
In response to a couple of requests of where the list came from. It’s from a book written a few years ago by my uncle and father chronicling the history of their grandfather. Written in both English and Kikuyu. Available at LDC in Nairobi. DM for details.
Or call 0705557290 for the book.
