Discover Africa Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Botswana
    • Kenya
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Expert Insights
  • Wildlife
  • Safari Guides
  • Facts
ADVERTISE WITH US
SUBSCRIBE
Discover Africa Blog
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Botswana
    • Kenya
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Expert Insights
  • Wildlife
  • Safari Guides
  • Facts
No Result
View All Result
Discover Africa Blog
No Result
View All Result
blank blank blank
Home

Kikuyu History: Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Seer

Discover Africa by Discover Africa
February 27, 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
0
blank blank blank

The Agikuyu believe that Ngai created the first man (Gikuyu) and woman (Mumbi) to whom they trace their origin.

Table of Contents

  • RELATED POSTS
  • Best 10 Reasons You should Visit Tanzania for Safari
  • Top 5 Highest Mountains in South Africa – Tallest Mountains and Tips
  • Solo Travel: 13 Reasons to Explore Your Own Adventure
  • Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer
  • The Sacred Tree

RELATED POSTS

Best 10 Reasons You should Visit Tanzania for Safari

Top 5 Highest Mountains in South Africa – Tallest Mountains and Tips

Solo Travel: 13 Reasons to Explore Your Own Adventure

One day Ngai appeared to Gikuyu and allotted him all land south-west of Mount Kenya, currently Kirinyaga county.

Gikuyu then built a homestead at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga in Murang’a. This place is considered sacred and has many fig trees. Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga is a gazetted cultural site.

Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer

Mugo wa Kibiru or Chege (Cege) wa Kibiru was a Kenyan sage from the Gikuyu tribe (Kikuyu, in Swahili) who lived in the 18th and early 19th centuries. His name “Mugo” means “a healer”.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

Mugo wa Kibiru was born in Kariara, Murang’a, near Thika, but his exact dates of birth and death are unknown.

There are various anecdotes regarding Chege wa Kibiru in Kikuyu folklore, but his claim to fame arose as a result of his accurate prophecies regarding the advent of the Caucasian (white man) on African soil long before British missionaries set their feet in Kenya.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

Chege’s prophecies were that there would come a race of people whose skin complexion would resemble a small pale-colored frog that lives in water (kiengere) and one would be able to see their blood flowing under their skins just like the frog.

And these pale strangers would have clothing that resembles butterflies (ciĩuhuruta) in their colorful aspect. And that these pale strangers would carry magical sticks that would produce fire (guns firing bullets), and it will be foolish for our warriors to confront them with their spears.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

Chege also prophesied that there would be a cultural erosion of tribal customs where Kikuyu youth would adopt the ways of the Caucasians.

The Caucasians would also carry fire in their pockets (matchboxes). Cooked food previously never sold in Kikuyu custom, would be sold on roadsides and markets all over the country.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

The plains where the Maasai graze their cattle would be farmed. Chege prophesied the coming of the Uganda Railway line that would stretch from one body of water Indian Ocean in the east to another in the west Lake Victoria and described an iron snake that would have many “legs” like an earthworm (train), traveling on this railway line, eating the Caucasians and vomiting them when it stopped (train journey with passengers).

[the_ad id=”12189″]

According to the prophecy, the iron snake would have a bushy head bellowing smoke.

Chege predicted with astonishing accuracy that there would be a famine in Kikuyuland that would exterminate much of the tribe right before the arrival of these pale-colored strangers or foreigners.

Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer
Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer

The Sacred Tree

Chege foretold that the Kikuyus and other tribes would be colonized by the Caucasians but that the colonization would end after many years (68 years) with the result that the Caucasians would leave Kenya.

Chege predicted that a giant fig tree 15 feet in diameter located in Thika, 26 miles north of Nairobi, would wither and die by the day Kenya gained independence.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

Chege’s prophecies had proved so accurate that the fig tree was regarded as sacred by the Kikuyus; even the British administrators/colonialists took the prophecy very seriously that they tended to and reinforced the fig tree with a mound of earth, and then built an iron ring around it to prevent it from falling.

[the_ad id=”12189″]

These measures were bound to fail. Shortly before Kenya gained independence from the British, the fig tree was struck by lightning and began to wither rapidly.

On 12th December 1963 when Kenya officially became an independent state, the tree had decayed and died thereby fulfilling Chege wa Kibiru’s prophecy over a century earlier.

 

Mugumo Tree (Fig Tree) A Sacred Tree in the Kikuyu Community
Mugumo Tree (Fig Tree) A Sacred Tree in the Kikuyu Community

[the_ad id=”12189″]

Tags: Kikuyu CultureKikuyu HistoryMugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer
ShareTweetPin

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
blank blank blank
ADVERTISEMENT
Discover Africa

Discover Africa

A Premium Luxury Safari Blog focusing on African Safari and Destination Marketing Services. Offering premium and incredible safari consultancy for more than 10+yrs.

Related Posts

Best 10 Reasons You should Visit Tanzania for Safari
Destinations in Africa

Best 10 Reasons You should Visit Tanzania for Safari

September 21, 2023
South Africa's Majestic Mountains
Expert Insights

Top 5 Highest Mountains in South Africa – Tallest Mountains and Tips

September 10, 2023
Solo Travel: 13 Reasons to Explore Your Own Adventure
Facts

Solo Travel: 13 Reasons to Explore Your Own Adventure

September 10, 2023
The Great Wildebeest Migration
Expert Insights

The Great Wildebeest Migration: Best Nature’s Epic Odyssey

August 22, 2023
About Botswana - Botswana - Facts About Botswana
Expert Insights

3 Most Known Botswana Safari Season – Best Tourist Guide

August 22, 2023
Lake Bunyonyi: Your Complete Guide to Serenity and Culture in Uganda's Enchanted Heart
Destinations in Africa

Lake Bunyonyi: 7 Insights for Serenity and Culture in Uganda’s Enchanted Heart

August 14, 2023
Next Post
The Luo History:- Origin and Regions of The Luo

The Luo History:- Origin and Regions of The Luo

Top 10 Smallest Tribes in Africa

Top 10 Smallest Tribes in Africa

Recommended Stories

Best time to visit Tanzania for Wildebeest Migration 2023

Best time to visit Tanzania for Wildebeest Migration 2023

March 10, 2023
Yacht Parties in Kenya: Photo by Marcin Ciszewski on Unsplash

The Allure of Yacht Parties in Kenya

July 2, 2023
Top 8 Most Famous Landmarks in Kenya

Top 8 Most Famous Landmarks in Kenya

March 28, 2023

Popular Stories

  • Beautiful bead works at the Maasai market-The Masai Market Nairobi - Where is The Maasai Market in Nairobi

    Where is The Maasai Market in Nairobi 2023? Best Days To Visit

    321258 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Luo History:- Origin and Regions of The Luo

    99891 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 5 top Tea and Coffee plantations to visit around Nairobi

    112333 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 10 popular streets in Nairobi

    126558 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  •   Top 8 Most Romantic Date Night Restaurants in Nairobi

    62541 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
blank blank blank

Discover Africa Blog – ABout Us

Discover Africa Blog

Discover Africa Blog is a premium safari blog that inspires travelers, advises and guides safari goers, and a blog that prepares you for your next African Safari Adventures.

Stay in Touch

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletters that inspire and motivate you to plan your next African Safaris. We share the best tips and ideas of how to plan your holidays in Africa. 

Facebook-f Twitter Google-plus-g Pinterest
Copyright 2023 © All rights Reserved. Design by Discover Africa Marketing
blank blank blank
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Botswana
    • Kenya
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Expert Insights
  • Wildlife
  • Safari Guides
  • Facts
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
ADVERTISE WITH US

© 2022 Discover Africa Marketing - Premium Safari Blog By Discover Africa Marketing.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Table of Contents

×
  • RELATED POSTS
  • Best 10 Reasons You should Visit Tanzania for Safari
  • Top 5 Highest Mountains in South Africa – Tallest Mountains and Tips
  • Solo Travel: 13 Reasons to Explore Your Own Adventure
  • Mugo wa Kibiru The Kikuyu Sheer
  • The Sacred Tree
→ Index
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Join our Mailing list!

Get amazing Safari Tips, Advises and Ideas from our weekly Blog Posts.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?