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Mũratina ingredients and their cultural, social, and philosophical significance

Posted by Mathaga Team on

Mũratina ingredients and their cultural, social, and philosophical significance

World cultures have always had various ways of making alcoholic beverages through the fermentation of ingredients available within their locality. The Jews can trace their Kosher wine to Noah's vineyards. The Indians used fermented rice to make Sura. The Native Americans used corn and grapes to make Chicha. The ancient Egyptians used raisins and honey to make their Nebit Shamsi, while the Chinese distilled Baijiu from fermented sorghum.  Similarly, the Agīkūyū people were blessed with naturally growing mĩratina trees (Kigelia Africana / Sausage Tree) which produced fruits known as mīratina, that are used to make the famous mũratina drink. The drink derived...

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INDIGENOUS AGĨKŨYŨ DREADLOCKS HAIRSTYLE AND IT'S CONNECTION TO MAUMAU RESISTANCE AND REGGAE MUSIC

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INDIGENOUS AGĨKŨYŨ DREADLOCKS HAIRSTYLE AND IT'S CONNECTION TO MAUMAU RESISTANCE AND REGGAE MUSIC

African communities have been known to have elaborate hairstyles which are made possible by their wooly, curly hair that makes it easy to design intricate patterns.  Each African community had a style that was synonymous with their unique culture and most importantly identity. This meant there was little room to change the styles or be experimental with the hairstyles. Most hairstyles had a meaning and were only worn by people at various stages in their life - otherwise, if they experimented too much, a sense of identity would be lost. Similarly, the Agīkūyū people donned distinct hairstyles based on the...

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AGĨKŨYŨ JUDICIAL SYSTEM - ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT IN THE WORLD!

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AGĨKŨYŨ JUDICIAL SYSTEM - ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT IN THE WORLD!

The Agĩkũyũ judicial system, known as kĩama, resembles the modern common law system, also known as case law. 

The Agĩkũyũ have a proverb that says, 'ciira ũciiragwo na ũngĩ ' meaning, a case is deliberated upon based on precedence judgement. This is what is popularly referred to as law of precedence.

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HAPPY GĨKŨYŨ NEW YEAR!

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HAPPY GĨKŨYŨ NEW YEAR!
Did you know that the rainy season that just started marks the beginning of the Gĩkũyũ new year known as kĩmera kĩa njahĩ (season of black / lablab bean) or mwaka wa njahĩ (year of the black bean)?

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