ART
This a shield which is a piece of art made by the Kikuyu
The Kikuyu have great taste in artifacts and art like statues carved by hands, jewellery made of beads and African sarongs which they sell locally and internationally.
The Kikuyu loved making things like shields because they have made a lot of shields as pieces of art. They had a good interest in making things like shields.
This a shield which is a piece of art made by the Kikuyu
This is a stool made by the Kikuyu tribe.
MUSIC
Traditional Kikuyu music has existed for generations up to 1888, when the Kikuyu people encountered and adopted a new culture from the Europeans (when the British colonised Kenya). Before 1888 and well into the 1920s, Kikuyu music included Kibaata, Nduumo and Muthunguci.
A gospel song sang by a Kikuyu and it is called Wega wa Gwitu.
Today, Music and Dance are strong components of the Kikuyu culture. There is a vigorous Kikuyu recording industry, for both popular and gospel music, in their pentatonic scale and western music styles. Popular Kikuyu musicians include Joseph Kamaru, DK Kamau, Wanganangu, HM, D'mathew, Peter Kiggia, Mike Rua and Esther Wahome.
Kikuyu cultural music
DANCE
The Kikuyu dances have symbolic meaning, they do these dances for different occasions such as warrior dances, dances of love, dances for welcoming, dancing in beer parties and circumcision dances.
The art of dancing plays a major role in traditions and the cultures throughout Africa. The Kikuyu tribe especially, enjoys and appreciates the skill of dancing because it is a way for young men and women to find their soul mates. It is also a source of entertainment. The tribe travels to isolated areas to respect the culture of dancing and feasting. This is a time for peace, happiness, and fun. The people of the Kikuyu tribe also have dance troupes or tribal groups that perform certain dance rituals or routines. It is a single functioning unit that involves representing its tribe, community, and nation. These dances also tend to represent their values and beliefs.
Unlike how Americans dance today, Kikuyu men do not touch their women in any kind of way. Dancing is well respected and sexuality is viewed and observed which is why touching while dancing is not allowed. They also use their dancing socials to mingle and socialize. Just like other cultures such as Cubans and Americans, the Kikuyu tribe has numerous types of dances such as, Nguchu, Nduumo, Mugoiyo, Gichukia, Ndachi ya Irua, which all have a story or deep meaning behind them.
A woman from the Kikuyu culture dancing in joy.
Kikuyu warriors dance
Video showing traditional Kikuyu dance.
Cinema And Film Production
Kikuyu Cinema and Film Production are a very recent phenomenon among the Kikuyu. They have become popular only in the 21st century. In the 20th century, most of the Kikuyu consumed cinema and film produced in the West, particularly the America’s. Popular Kikuyu film productions include comedies such as Machang'i series and Kihenjo series.
This is a picture of a scene from a Kikuyu film called 'Mutumia Mugi'. This film was made on the importance of having a wise wife.
There is also the movie Kitchen Toto set in colonial Kenya where a young Kikuyu boy, Mwangi, works for British settlers in Kenya at that time, depicting the hardships they had to go through as the workers faced constant pressure from the Mau Mau freedom fighters who wanted the workers to join them. The movie that uses Kikuyu as its primary language gained popularity from the Kikuyu populace.