Ameru

The Ameru tribe inhabits the Meru region of Kenya. They speak the Meru language.

Location

The Ameru are a community living primarily on the agricultural northeastern slope of Mount Kenya in the Eastern Province of Kenya. The name "Meru" refers to both the people and the location, as for many years there was only one geo-political district for the Meru people. This changed in 1992 when the district was divided into three: Meru, Nyambene, and Tharaka-Nithi. These people are unrelated to the Meru people in north Tanzania, other than that they are both Bantu-speaking. The Meru are primarily agrarian, with some animals. Their home life and culture is similar to other Highland Bantus. The Tharaka live in the dry desert area, a much harsher life than most Meru.

Meru people are divided into seven sections namely Igoj, Imenti,Tigania, Miutuni, Igembe, Mwimbi and Muthambi. The Chuka and Tharaka are now considered Meru but have different oral histories and mythology

The Meru were traditionally governed by elected and hierarchical councils of elders from the clan level right up to the supreme "njuri ncheke" council that governed all the seven sections, making Meru perhaps the only pre-colonial democratic nation in sub-Saharan Africa. The Njuri is the only traditional judicial system recognized by the Kenyan state.

History

The predominant oral tradition concerning the Meru's early history is a fantastic fable that seems to combine elements of both truth and fiction and has close parallel to Jewish mythology

Taken as a whole, the Meru have one of the most detailed and potentially confusing oral histories and mythology of any people in Kenya. It is also one of the most deeply intriguing, at least from a western point of view, as it contains extremely strong Biblical similarities that suggest to some that they may once have been one of the lost tribes of Israel, and to others that they were once Jewish, in the same way that the Felasha of Ethiopia remain Jewish to the present day. This history includes a good part of both Old and New Testament stories: a baby in a basket of reeds who becomes a leader and a prophet, the massacre of newly born babies by an evil king, an exodus, the parting and crossing of the waters by an entire nation, Aaron's Rod in the form of a magic spear or staff, the leadership of a figure comparable to Moses, references to ancient Egypt (Misiri), and so on.

In brief, it recounts that the Meru were once enslaved by the "Red People". They eventually escaped, and in their exodus came across a large body of water called Mbwaa or Mbwa, which they crossed by magical means. The details of the tradition are replete with parallels to the Old Testament, and also contain references to events described in the New Testament. This has led many to speculate that the Meru are perhaps the descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel, or that they were once Jewish, or had been in profound cultural contact with a people that certainly were (such as the Felasha of Ethiopia).

Considerable if inconclusive anthropological research has been conducted and documented with respect to this startling aspect of Meru Mythology. The book by Jeffrey Fadiman "When We Began There Were Witchmen" deals with this subject.

Other interpretations of Meru history incorporates aspects of Meru mythology and spans about three centuries. There are no written records for the first two centuries and what may be learned must come from memories of the community's elders. The predominant tradition has to do with a place called "Mbwa". This tradition tells how the Meruan ancestors were captured by the "Nguuntune" (the "red people", literally the "red clothes", generally taken to mean the Arabs) and taken into captivity on the island of "Mbwa". Because conditions were intolerable, secret preparations were made to leave "Mbwa".

According to some oral tradition sources Mbwa was located in present day Yemen. Others identify "Mbwa" with Manda Island near Lamu and the water as the ocean channel. When the day came to leave "Mbwa", a corridor of dry land is said to have been created for the people to pass through the Red Sea. They later followed a route that took them to the hills of Marsabit, eventually reaching the Indian Ocean coast. There they stayed for some time; however, due to climatic conditions and threats from the Arabs, they traveled farther south until they came to the Tana River basin.

Most traditions say most went as far south as Tanzania until finally reaching the Mount Kenya area. This seems to combine two separate myths of origin from different segments of Meru history, one from the north and another from the east. The eastern origin tradition indicates westward migration from the coast. This correlates with traditions of other Bantu peoples like the Giriama and the Pokomo.

The Meru people have traditionally been considered to be Bantu. The Meru are actually of mixed origin, with some claiming an origin from the north or west, as well as the coastal origins. Cushites referred to as Mwoko in Meru traditions were already living there when the Bantu groups arrived in various stages of migration. The Meru are share many similarities with the Embu, and Kikuyu as well.

Culture

Education

Meru have had a strong educational foundation provided by Christian mission schools and are among the most influential ethnic groups in Kenya. The main education institutions were started or sponsored by churches notably Catholic, Methodist (the dominant church in the region) and Presbyterian.

Languages

The languages of Meru, Embu and Kikuyu are somewhat understandable to one another with some substantial differences. The Meru speak at least seven different dialects, but the Bible translation being used is in the Imenti dialect. The differences in the dialects reflect the varied Bantu origins and influences from Cushite and Nilotic, as well as different Bantu, neighbors. As a whole Meru exhibits much older Bantu characteristics in grammar and phonetic forms than the neighboring languages. Even so, it still bears a close resemblance to Kikuyu and Kamba.

Family Traditions

In traditional rural areas the Meru have fairly strict circumcision customs that affect all of life. From the time of circumcision, boys no longer have contact with their mother and girls no longer have contact with their father. A separate house is built for the sons and the mother leaves their food outside the door. This does vary to some degree depending on the level of urban influence, but is still practiced in some parts of Meru region.

Politics and tribal alliances

In the past the Meru were in a coalition with the Embu and Kikuyu which yielded some political power. The coalition, called Gikuyu-Embu-Meru Association (GEMA), is not as strong as it once was, but the Meru typically voted with the opposition after the advent of multipartism. This has since changed with the defeat of KANU in the 2002 General elections that saw a number of Meru leaders in the government of NARC. This does vary from location to location, but would generally hold true. Developments under the multi-party experiment since 1992 has renewed an informal political alliance between GEMA peoples and much of the Kikuyu community.

List of prominent Ameru

* Prof. Leah Marangu, Vice Chancellor, African Nazarene University, first woman professor in Kenya
* Hon. Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera, Director Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC)
* Janet Mathiu, Director of Nursing Services - Nairobi Hospital,Kenya.
* Rueben Marambii, CEO, National Bank of Kenya
* Mary Mukindia, former CEO, National Oil Corp
* Dr. Samuel Kobia, former secretary general of National Christian Council of Kenya (NCCK)
* Bishop Lawi Imathui, founder of Kenya Methodist University
* Francis Muthaura, Head of Public Service & Secretary of the Cabinet, Kenya.
* Edward H Ntalami, Chief Executive, Capital Markets Authority, Kenya.
* David Mwiraria, former Finance Minister, Kenya, currently environment Minister.
* Kiraitu Murungi, Minister of Energy, Kenya.
* Eng. Erastus K. Mwongera, former permanent secretary of Ministry of Roads, Ministry of Water and Ministry of Lands, Kenya.

*Dr.Kilemi Mwiria, assistant Minister for Education,Kenya.
* Prof. Gerishon Ikiara, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport.
* Late Francis Kalung'e Mwenda, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the President.
* Mathew Kirai Iteere, commandant General Service Unit
* Prof. Alfred Mutema, Chairman, Kenyatta National Hospital.
* Henry Kinyua, former Managing Director, Kenya Planters Co-operative Union, Kenya
* Isaiah Kabira, Director, Presidential Press Services
* Prof. Julius Meme, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kenya
* Gitobu Imanyara, Member of Parliament and civil rights advocate

External links

* [http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/meru/history.htm Stories and myths of origin of Kenyan peoples]

* [http://orvillejenkins.com/profiles/meru.html The Meru of Kenya -- Cultural Profile]