As some have already ventured to explain, facing mount kenya is not politically neutral. 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. I am now ready to tackle mt kenya beginning with the lenana peak. Kenyatta writes in this text, the cultural and historical traditions of the gikuyu people have been verbally handed down from generation to. During this time rock climbs are incondition and snow and ice climbs gradually deteriorate. The gikuyu tribe builds their huts with doorways facing the mountain, as they believe it to be gods throne on earth. 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. 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. Buy a cheap copy of facing mount kenya book by jomo kenyatta. Read online facing mount kenya and download facing mount kenya book full in pdf formats. With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, 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. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. He is a trained theologian, a motivational speaker, a professor of religion and ethics, and an ordained minister. Kenyattas partisanship doesnt fail to bleed into every other passage in the book.
Kenyattas text fails to provide the recognizable figure of the author that is necessary for the autobiographical moment and, in a larger context, the philosophical moment of selfknowledge to occur. The journalist who translated jomo kenyattas facing mt. The very sight and sound of kikuyu tribal life presented here are at once comprehensive and intimate, and as precise as they are compassionate. The books introduction was written by anthropologist bronislaw malinowski, who mentored kenyatta while both were at the london school of. Facing mount kenya is an excellent anthropological study that defined the kenyan national narrative. Kenya leaves its reader with a peculiar sense of the absence of the author in what should be a portrait of the author. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. This book signaled another name change, to jomo burning spear kenyatta. Aug 19, 2010 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Climbing mount kenya, hiking route prices, trek gears. Besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, ifacing mount kenya i has an enduring place in. Without this book i would have continued to think that slavery and colonisation was a good thing that benefitted africans the most just like other ignorant people think. Also, you can read online facing mount kenya full book. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the. Kenyattas facing mount kenya, published in 1938 after kenyatta, then in his forties, had studied for three years with bronislaw malinowski. 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.
Kasisi kiriaku holds a phd degree in religion from the university of birmingham england. Read download facing mount kenya pdf pdf book library. Apr 05, 2011 besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenyahas an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. The light they saw at the top of the mountain, which they called ira, was in fact snow and ice. 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.
Download full facing mount kenya book in pdf, epub, mobi and all ebook format. 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. The book discusses the family life, political structure, land tenure policies, educational system, and religious system of the tribe, as well as discussing many other aspects in an effort to educate the public about the. Kenyatta takes the reader through the birth, initiation, sex, marriage, family and death of every gikuyu. 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 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. 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. The first footnote insists that westerners have mistaken the phonetics of the tribes name. Depending on the study guide provider sparknotes, shmoop, etc. Ngai lived at the top of mountain kirinyaga now known as mt kenya. The book was published by the east african publishing house in 1966.
Jul 09, 2009 109yearold veteran and his secrets to life will make you smile short film showcase duration. When the missionaries arrived, the africans had the land and the missionaries had the bible. The tribal life of the gikuyu, by jomo kenyatta, is an ethnography of the gikuyu tribe of kenya, africa. Kenyatta, later kenya s first president, wrote this vivid collection of essays for bronislaw malinowskis anthropology seminar at the london school of economics and published them in britain in 1938 as a monograph on the life and customs of the kikuyu people before colonial conquest. A social history of forest commons in southern mount kenya. Besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenya has an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. Besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenyahas an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. Kenyatta, later kenyas first president, wrote this vivid collection of essays for bronislaw malinowskis anthropology seminar at the london school of economics and published them in britain in 1938 as a monograph on the life and customs of the kikuyu people before colonial conquest.
With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the kikuyu ethnicity of central kenya. Because mount kenya is located on the equator, the sun rises and sets at almost exactly the same time each day, 5. The first man was known as gikuyu, and the first woman was called mumbi. The tribal life of gikuyu by jomo kenyatta is an anthropological, psychological, social, economical and religious study of the african people living in gikuyu, kenya. Told from an african standpoint, the book shows both the rich culture of the gikuyu people, as well as the. Facing mount kenya was translated into naushangilia mlima wa kenya by veteran late journalist lawrence john kibui. Four different ethnic tribes live around the mountain. With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, facing mount keny. Facing mount kenya by jomo kenyatta, 1965, vintage books edition, in english facing mount kenya 1965 edition open library.
As a boy, kenyatta assisted his grandfather, who was a medicine man. Kasisi kiriaku wa kinyua is the founder and ceo of kasisi brands including kasisi facing mount kenya and kasisi global institute. Mount kenya mount kenya national park 2020 all you. Kenyatta s facing mount kenya, published in 1938 after kenyatta, then in his forties, had studied for three years with bronislaw malinowski. Like they speak as if it was some how beneficial to an african to work for them instead for himself and to make sure that he will receive this benefit they do their best to take away his land and leave him with no alternative. Along with his land they rob him of his government. Jomo kenyatta was born in 1889 in gatundu of kiambu county in kenya. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Other articles where facing mount kenya is discussed. This short book gives valuable insight into the kikuyu traditions and customs and denounces the arrogant and racist attitude of some colonial administrators. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the kikuyu tribe of central kenya. He defends the african tradition and condemns the british rule in kenya.
Kenyattas primary purpose in writing this book was to give a true description of the african culture. The book is a study of kenyattas own tribe, the kikuyu. The kikuyu people believe that this place was the highest peak of the mountain they called kirinyaga meaning a place of light and darkness. It was written by native kikuyu and future kenyan president jomo kenyatta. This short book gives valuable insight into the kikuyu. Thank you mt jomo kenyatta for writting this book its a great achievement just like fighting for the independence of kenya. Certain points are cited throughout his reading with respect to the justification of gikuyu soci.
The southfacing side of mount kenya receives more sunshine in the december to march period. As a firsthand account of a representative african culture, as an. The books introduction was written by anthropologist bronislaw malinowski, who mentored kenyatta while both were at the london school of economics. Kasisi facing mount kenya develops and offers training programmes in areas of education, leadership, research, capacity building, professional integrity, and service. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the bible. Among the summaries and analysis available for facing mount kenya. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions.
Night time temperatures on the summit are well below freezing. Facing mount kenya by jomo kenyatta, paperback barnes. Yet when an african writes a book about his own tribe, it seems almost. In the time of creation, god could only descend to earth in a place of absolute and divine purity. Kenya, jomo keyatta establishes the history and tradition of the gikuyu society. Temperatures vary considerably with height and with time of day. 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.
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