One never quite knows what to expect when it comes to our International Nights. Will lots of people want to participate 😀 Will no one😟
Last Thursday was fantastic and I really want to thank everyone who came, everyone who brought food and, especially, everyone who shared something of their culture.
Sushmitha, from India, gave a beautiful demonstration of yoga. In all seriousness, please don't try this at home!!
Despite being from the Amazon region, Milenka represented the highland peoples of Peru with a rendition on the zampona. She was apologetic about her few mistakes but, trust me, we were all enthralled 😍
We took a performance break for my international quiz. Everyone did really well, we had some laughs and the winning team were ...
Colette from Kenya, Victor from Nigeria,
Naresh and Sush from India
Colette gave us a wonderful insight into Kenya, its people and culture. I could have listened for ages. Kenya has 47 ethnic groups, but Colette is from the Kikuyu, which is the largest ethnic group. They are known for their role in Kenya attaining independence in 1963 through a movement
called Mau Mau; and they occupy the Mt. Kenya region (central Kenya). Mt Kenya is the second-highest
mountain in Africa and has snow!
They believe Ngai (God) created humanity, the 1st man called Gikuyu, and the 1st woman called Mumbi.
Ngai created a mountain "as His resting place when on an inspection tour and as a sign of His
wonders."
Kikuyus used to, and still do, worship while facing the mountain, a practice that continues as a
pilgrimage.
Fun fact: 10 is considered a number of completion, but the Kikuyu believe it is a bad omen, as one
can never have enough. Gikuyu and Mumbi had ten daughters, but uttering the number 10 is
avoided.
A Marriage has several different stages:
1. Traditional Proposal – This normally involves a back-and-forth poetic exchange between
the boy and girl.
2. Njurio – Acceptance of the proposal. The boy informs his family, who then gather the
village elders and the girl's parents. The girl is asked to conrm her acceptance not with a
"yes" or "no," but by serving traditional beer to her future father-in-law.
3. Ruracio – The giving of dowry. Dowry, typically in the form of cattle, is delivered to the
girl's family. The boy's family must persuade the girl's family to let them in.
4. Goima Ceremony – Slaughtering of a sheep in preparation for the wedding.
5. Ngurario – The grand wedding day. The ceremony involves various traditions, including
the bride showcasing her "wife qualities" and how she would care for her husband.
The Kikuyu traditionally feared handling the dead, as contact with a corpse was considered thahu
(an abomination). If a person died at home, the hut had to be demolished. The dying were taken to
the bush, where a leash was tied to their right hand and tugged during meal times to check if they
were still alive. A hyena was expected to dispose of the corpse when they joined their ancestors. Today, the Kikuyu bury their dead but observe purication rites.
Colette's great-grandfather, Karuri wa Gakure, played a key role in introducing Christianity to central
Kenya.
He welcomed the gospel by receiving the first Consolata Missionaries in his small village at Tuthu.
Not only did he allow the missionaries to settle in his area, but he also provided them with land.
Because of this, his children were among the first Kenyans to embrace education and Christianity as
soon as it became available.
As a result, most of my father’s side of the family is very studious and well-educated. Safe to say, I
am royalty—with no royal privileges. 😀
The Kikuyu people have a rich history, deep traditions, and strong cultural values. From their ght
for independence to their beliefs and customs, the Kikuyu have shaped Kenya’s history.
Last, but by no means least, Vaishnavi gave us a lesson on the sari and draping culture, which dates way back to the ancient Egyptians. With help from Sush, she then demonstrated how to put a sari on. I don't think Milenka, will every forget this evening. You really can't leave an evening like this without a group selfie, especially as it was Jacob's last evening. He deserves BIG CONGRATULATIONS on finding a job in Farnborough.Jacob we wish you all God's blessings for your future!
When you need a group selfie, it's super useful
to have Jude's long arms 😄😄😄
