Thanks to the existence of such tribes as Gikuyu in Kenya, historians have a chance to study the customs, traditions, and occupations of Neolithic times since these people preserved their ancestors’ lifestyles. Jomo Kenyatta’s book Facing Mount Kenya presents a detailed overview of this tribe’s life. Although men and women seem equal in this society, they have a distinct division of responsibility and work (Kenyatta 6). For example, hard labor jobs are primarily assigned to men, while housework is a female privilege. Gikuyu’s economic and cultural life continues to be based on the ancient traditions that give an insight into social order in Neolithic times.
Gender and social status play a defining role in terms of individuals’ duties. Specifically, men of Gikuyu build houses, cut trees, prepare the soil for planting, and sell livestock, whereas women cook, clean, and sell grains. Some jobs like planting and trading can be performed by both sexes. A family’s social status is defined by the livestock it possesses since ships, goats, and cattle serve as a currency within Gikuyu’s economic system (Kenyatta 44). It means that a person with more livestock is more affluent.
The marriage system of Gikuyu has its unique features and customs. Although individuals marry through mutual love, certain rituals must be followed before a girl and boy can start a family. Notably, it is considered impolite in this community to say directly about their feelings and intentions; therefore, people use specific phrases at every stage, from engagement to marriage. Moreover, since polygamy is allowed in this society, a more affluent man may have several wives.
Gikuyu’s economic and cultural systems have some characteristics of the Neolithic period but not the Paleolithic. In fact, this tribe started to produce food, developed agriculture and formed family bonds compared to Paleolithic times when people’s main occupation was hunting. However, the uniqueness of Gikuyu’s culture is that they created a more complex system of forming family relations that should be based on mutual love.
In summary, Kenyatta’s book provides an outstanding review of the Gikuyu, which serves as an excellent example of how tribes lived during the Neolithic period. However, it is essential to understand that their lives are represented from the perspective of people of the modern world. Gikuyu seems content with their economic system and traditions that worked perfectly for them for thousands of years and continue helping them survive.
Work Cited
Kenyatta, Jomo. Facing Mount Kenya: The Traditional Life of the Gikuyu. East African Educational Publishers, 2015.