This is a song from a historical moment in Gîkûyû history.
The year is 1889, where Tumutumu mission stands today, you can only see a medicine man's hut (Waing'a).
In previous years, his compound wouldn't be as full as it is today. Many people know natural herbs, and the diseases they cure/remedy so visiting a medicine man is a last resort.
But today, the compound is full. It has been this full for a few weeks or so ago, and it might continue to be this full for several months to come.
There is a strange disease in the land. A disease the Gîkûyû nation hasn't seen before.
If this disease gets to you, your skin gets itchy, hot, and it develops rashes. People have called it Mûhare. If you get this disease, you'll keep scratching yourself. You'll be so itchy that, your hands wouldn't be doing a good job and you'll opt to use a mûratina (the plant).
If you stand from a far, and watch those people coming out of Waing'as but, you'll they come out covered in white dust. From this far, it is difficult to differentiate whether the whiteness is from ashes or ira.
Waing'a, a renowned medicine man, has never seen this disease before. None of the knowledge passed down to him through the word of mouth, as collected by our forefathers can help cure this disease.
Waing'a, only has a remedy to the itchiness. Covering them in the white soil, or sometimes ashes. Patients can then go home and wait to heal naturally or die.
As you turn to go on with your Journey, you see another relatively new hut. It's also has some patients.
Word has it that the hut belongs to Njecû (Jesus), and his servant is a white Scottish man, whom locals have nicknamed Nyaruta.
Nyaruta also says he has a remedy to the disease. Apparently Njecû can heal them, and any other disease that they have.
Nyaruta is calling on all Waing'as frustrated patients calling them to his hut. When a patient accepts the invitation, they will wash the whiteness off, apply oil on the patients, give them new clothes, and give them medicine.
His patients actually have a lower motarity rate than Waing'as. When asked he says it is the power of his master Njecû.
He openly tells people, that they should gauge the powers of Njecû, and Waing'a and decide for themselves. Evidence says Njecû is stronger than Waing'a.
Important history or events in Gîkûyû land are recorded through songs. So, Nyaruta's patients, turned followers, have now created a new song to record this historic event.. They're singing it at every opportunity they get;
UNBEKNOWNST TO MANY this disease that Njecû was healing was brought by the white men, the tribesmen of Nyaruta. They had lived with this disease for so long and have even developed medicine and remedies to it.
It is the same disease they had used as a biological weapon of genocide against native Americans about 2-4 centuries before. They even knew you should wear new clothes, since they spread it to local communities by giving out already infected blankets and clothing.
With time, all people will leave Waing'as hut and go to Njecû's. Waing'a will lose all the people he was helping. His own people will turn against him, and what he stands for.
The location where his hut is located, will be taken by Nyaruta, and Nyaruta will create a mission center there, WITH THE HELP OF WAING'AS OWN TRIBESMEN.
As if that is not enough, his knowledge, which his people have relied on for 100s of years will be lost. His name will become the Gîkûyû's name for a new evil supernatural being (Satan) that is being introduced into Gîkûyû's psychic by Nyaruta.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Definition of terms; Post credit to Kikuyu Council of elders
1. Mūiti wa mbūgū (diviner)- ūyū nīwe mūndū mūgo na nīarī mbūthū ya mwano na nī aragūraga na mbūgū.
2. Kīoni - (seer) ūyū ndarī mwano na oonagio maūndū kumania na indo na andū. No arore mbakī, matu, njata, ona mara ma mbūri kana nyoni na ahote kūheywo ndūmīrīri nī Ngai kana ngomi.
3. Mūgongoni (priest) - ūyū no akorwo e mūthuuri o woothe mūhe guoko gwa kūgongona...ona no akorwo e mūthuuri wa kīama kana kīgotho wa mūciī. Nī mekīraga ngotho ya mūgwongo guoko kwa motho.
O Muhiriga niwari Mawega na mauru maguo ,no Ruriri ni rwendaini muno.
✓ Wanjirũ
Wanjirũ nĩwe nyina wa mũhĩrĩga wa Anjirũ, Mũnjirũ acukagwo atĩ e kaũndũ na kangĩ. Ũguo nĩ kũũga atĩ matigaga mbũthũ ya mĩthaiga ĩrĩa ĩ rũgoci thĩ.
✓ Wambũi
Wambũi nĩwe nyina wa Ambũi. Ambũi ni macukagwo atĩ matithiragwo nĩ mũkuru ũrĩ nda. Nĩaara mũno nĩamu hĩndĩ ya ng’aragu meendirie kahĩĩ njahĩ. ĩni makahumbĩte ta kairĩtu.
✓ Waceera kana Wanjeri
Waceera kana Njeri nĩwe nyina wa mũhĩrĩga wa Aceera. Nĩ etagwo na rĩtwa rĩngĩ rĩa kũnanio Wanjeri. Mũhĩrĩga ũyũ ũĩkaine nĩ ũndũ wa waara wao wa mũcarĩrie na uramati wa indo. Mũceera acukagwo atĩ ndaceraga na ũngĩ.