In the 1930s he studied at the London School of Economics and took his degree in anthropology under Bronislav Malinowski. It had some interesting insights on how British administrators and missionaries had very little understanding of how the Gikuyu people saw the world and instead used Western misinterpretations to imagine how the Gikuyu people did what they did. Tremendously informed and moving study of a people. 2.2.4Practice: Facing Mount Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta Practice World History Points Possible: 30 Name: Jamir Maxime Date: In this assignment, you will complete the following steps: 1. Refresh and try again. Facing+Mount+Kenya.pdf - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. culture of the kikuyu tribe kenya at colonial period It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. : The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture (76), Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature, Kikuyu Mystery Revealed: Descendants of Asher, a lost tribe of Israel. I'd have been more pleased with the book had it stuck to merely giving an accurate picture of Kikuyu culture as opposed to interspersing anthropological and ethnological writing with long detours and diatribes against British views on African culture. I was hoping it would be "Pan-Kenyan", but Kenyatta only deals with his tribe - the Kikuyu - their customs, beliefs, structures, and how they were affected by colonialism. No_Favorite. Born in 1898. He granted Gikuyu, the founder of the Kikuy… Amazing early anthropological account of Kikuyu life by London-trained anthropologist Jomo Kenyatta. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Jahrhunderts. Its a good resource for studying Afrika in general, and Kenya in particular, during the ending years of colonialism. Najar Nyakio Munyinyi FACING MOUNT KENYA by Jomo Kenyatta – a Running Commentary: “When the Kikuyu, or the white neo-colonizer, comes to the country and robs the people of their land, they are taking away not only their livelihood, but the quantifiable symbol that holds family units together. Facing Mount Kenya is absolutely essential reading for students of Kenyan culture, and remains a fine overview of the Gikuyu (Kikuyu) people, as well as a good case study for general readers in African studies. A bit tedious at points, but overall very interesting and insightful. Kasisi Facing Mount Kenya hosts Kasisi Global Institute and an online database. It was for my Traditional Religion learning. Law and order was regulated by fear of God and departed spirits and life was a series of rites of passage, ceremonies, sacrifices and rituals. This book signaled another name change, to Jomo (“Burning Spear”) Kenyatta. Gikuyu society was complex and not understood by the British. Welcome back. Alone with the wind, I am only one man. The book is a study of Kenyatta’s own tribe, the Kikuyu. A must read for understanding the problems which face the continent today in its attempt to "Westernize. Told from an African standpoint, the book shows both the rich culture of the Gikuyu people, as well as the dangers of European influence over a population of people whose entire lives are based on social customs and religious ideas. The mountain is sacred, and they build their houses with the doors facing towards it. This book gives a detailed look at how kenyans in general and the kikuyu in particular lived before the coming of the white man. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Facing Mount Kenya is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary Africa, but a work of considerable literary merit. “I'm in a weird place because the book is about to come out. Every kikuyu must read this book. Instead, it is an anthropological study of the Gikuyu people. Facing Mount Kenya, first published in 1938, is a monograph on the life and customs of the Gikuyu people of central Kenya prior to their contact with Europeans.It is unique in anthropological literature for it gives an account of the social institutions and religious rites of an African people, permeated by the emotions that give to customs and observances their meaning. Kikuyu culture to the British was necessary; more so given the sociopolitical and economic climate at the time. I liked it. It's a lie - I didn't finish reading this book. Kenya worked to sustain the knowledge of the culture of African peoples, as well as to dissect them anthropologically so that the layman might understand. An essential read for any student of East African tribal customs and anthropology. I enjoyed reading the book. Sehr interessant, um die Historie vieler Bantu-Völker zu verstehen und abzuleiten, warum möglicherweise so viele post-kolonialistische Staatsbegründer Afrikas südlich der Sahara für sozialistische Staatsformen entschieden haben. Kenyatta's description simultaneously forces the reader to wonder about the positive aspects of a simpler, more communal style of life that is unfamiliar to western readers, while also highlighting many of the positive benefits that the west has made. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Sorry President Kenyatta - simply found it too boring - words I rarely use about anything but log frames. Kenyatta’s Facing Mount Kenya, published in 1938 after Kenyatta, then in his forties, had studied for three years with Bronislaw Malinowski. It's no surprise that he went on to become Kenya's first president following the end of colonial rule. 'Facing Mount Kenya' is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of African society and the nature of the African mind. For example, Yoruban scholar Samuel Johnson once stated, "Educated natives of Yoruba were all acquainted with the history of England and with that of Rome and Greece, but of the history of their own country they know nothing". I have been wondering what I'll tell my kids of Jomo Kenyatta's legacy. Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices. Price New from Used from Hardcover "Please retry" $41.04 — $38.95: Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. and extremely serious seller and staff, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2017. Kenyatta was of the Kikuyu tribe, and the reader learns much about the customs and mores of the Kikuyu, and how they differed from other regional tribes such as the Maasai and Luo. Kenya is an ethnography about the culture of the Gikuyu people of Kenya. I was looking for something light and I thought this could be some interesting non fiction book. Read: Read the excerpt from Facing Mount Kenya: The Tribal Life of the Gikuyu by Jomo Kenyatta. Download Facing Mount Kenya Books now!Available in PDF, EPUB, Mobi Format. Facing Mt. It had some interesting insights on how British administrators and missionaries had very little understanding of how the Gikuyu people saw the world and instead used Western misinterpretations to imagine how the Gikuyu people did what they did. Most of those authors who spent a great deal of time with native African's always say they "understand the Africans" intimately. It helped to establish a genre of localist writings on literature, history and philosophy that strive to outline the social landscapes of colonial communities. For example, much of the unity of Kenyatt'a Gikuyu tribe is bound in the custom of male and female circumcision, which happens around the time of adolescence. Kenyatta gives a chilling description of the burning of a witch doctor as related by his grandfather who was a leading elder. ABOUT FACING MOUNT KENYA. No schools or hospitals existed in the accepted sense, but equally there was not an orphanage, old-age home or jail in sight. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Furthermore, while the benefits of tribal unity are quite clear to the reader, I can't help but ask how the lack of choice (and the underlying lack of opportunity that necessarily precedes choice) have impacted the overall development of his tribe. In 1938, Kenyatta wrote a monograph examining the society and institutions of the Gikuyu which was published in London under the title, Facing Mount Kenya: the tribal life of the Gikuyu. “To .. all the dispossessed youth of Africa: for perpetuation of communion with ancestral spirits through the fight for African freedom, and in the firm faith that the dead, the living, and the unborn will unite to rebuild the destroyed shrines.” ~from the dedication”, “It Africans were left in peace on their own lands, Europeans would have to offer them the benefits of white civilization in real earnest before they could obtain the African labour which they want so much. Advanced embedding details, examples, and … Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2011. According to tribal legend, their god Ngai created Kirinyaga (Mount Kenya), “the mountain of brightness,” as an earthly dwelling place from which to survey his creation and bestow blessings and punishment upon his people. Facing Mount Kenya. Kenyatta was of the Kikuyu tribe, and the reader learns much about the customs and mores of the Kikuyu, and how they differed from other regional tribes such as the Maasai and Luo. Kenyatta was educated at the Church of Scotland Mission at Thogoto, and some of the early conflicts arose over his support for female circumcism, a practice which was vehemently opposed by the Presbyterians (who also opposed polygamy). Published in September 1938, Kenyatta’s study of Kikuyu life and customs, Facing Mount Kenya, received lavish acclaim from Malinowski, who was reputedly economical with praise and far from easy to impress. Facing Mount Kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the Kikuyu tribe of central Kenya. Please try again. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published For example, Yoruban scholar Samuel Johnson once stated, "Educated natives of Yoruba were all acquainted with the history of. As early as the 1800s, ethnographies became an important means of recording the history of African peoples. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Sehr ausführliche Darlegung der Lebensweise der Kikuyu im Kenia des frühen 20. I thought the foc. 'Facing Mount Kenya' is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary Africa, but a work of considerable literary merit. Both intentionally and unintentionally this sets up a comparison with (for white readers) a more familiar, western world. The Embu people live to the south-east of Mount Kenya, and believe that the mountain is God's home (the Embu word for God is Ngai or Mwene Njeru). Kenya, a land of safaris, wild animals, and Maasai warriors, perfectly represents Africa for many Westerners. They would have to let the African choose what parts of European culture could be beneficially transplanted, and how they could be adapted … The African is conditioned, by cultural and social institutions of centuries, to a freedom of which Europe has little conception, and it is not in his nature to accept serfdom for ever.”. Many years ago I read this fascinating autobiography by Jomo Kenyatta which tells the story of Kenya's struggle for independence. Due to the legacy of colonialism and Eurocentrism, there was often a great neglect in the education system (of colonial Africa) in the teaching of African history, ironically enough. Facing Mount Kenya, first published in 1938, is a monograph on the life and customs of the Gikuyu people of central Kenya prior to their contact with Europeans. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! These forced procedures galvanize tribal unity, but at what cost to the individual? Unable to add item to List. Going to add it to me Want to Read/Re-read books on/by/about Africa/Africans list. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Many years ago I read this fascinating autobiography by Jomo Kenyatta which tells the story of Kenya's struggle for independence. Facing Mount Kenya is an excellent anthropological study that defined the Kenyan national narrative. Going to add it to me Want to Read/Re-read books on/by/about Africa. Obviously that was a long time ago so the details are hazy but I remember liking the book although that might have been mostly due to 1) I was a huge bookworm and loved reading anything I could get my hands on and 2) being a massive fan of Jomo Kenyatta (he was President when I lived in Kenya and I saw him speak in person as well as on television etc when I was a very young girl.) Great read! Facing Mount Kenya Author : Jomo Kenyatta ISBN : UCSC:32106000493707 Genre : Ethnology File Size : 72. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Start by marking “Facing Mount Kenya” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Download A Bishop Facing Mount Kenya Books now!Available in … by Vintage. However the book is also a fascinating look into the early 20th culture of this east African nation. Specifically, he tells a story about how and why tribal customs are what they are. Instead of being a "tribal" continent, Africa is more diverse and developed than many people assumed. Good book to read if traveling to Kenya, also a great read for social anthropology. To the Kikuyu, Bantu-speaking people who migrated to the foothills of Mount Kenya in the 1500s, the mountain is a sacred place and a central part of their creation myth. Will now admit that I'm not likely to, unless it's the only book available in the departure lounge and the flight has been delayed for three days. It was written by native Kikuyu and future Kenyan president Jomo Kenyatta. I read this in school in Kenya in the early 80s. The Facing Mount Kenya; the Tribal Life of Gikuyu lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. 'Facing Mount Kenya' is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary Africa, but a work of considerable literary merit. I had thought it might be a political treatise as Jomo Kenyatta was Kenya's first president. Dr. Johnson Kĩriakũ Kĩnyua in honor of the late Very Rev. Read for Graduate School African History class. i read this outloud when i wants to freak them out. I thought the focus of this book being on just one ethnic group portended the tribalism that has dogged Kenya throughout its history. See 1 question about Facing Mount Kenya…, Lauren Hough on Leaving Cults, the Military, and Bad Jobs. 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