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  Kikuyu people: Ceremony of the second birth Routledge, writing in the early 1900s, noted that all the Kikuyu clans in his locality took their male children through a ceremony that re-enacted a birth. He termed it appropriately ‘second birth’ and was perplexed by it. He noted that “the symbolical second birth is perhaps the most mysterious of the Kikuyu rites…” Routledge tried to get to the bottom of the rite, but much as he tried, the Kikuyu would not let him in on it. He even offered to be taken through the rite himself, while his wife offered to be one of the birth attendants. Routledge records that “no amount of bribery or use of personal influence prevailed to permit either of us to witness it.” The European couple was, however, fortunate to have among their servants “natives who have freed themselves from tradition,” who described the procedure, having gone through the ceremony themselves. For those who have read my writings about the Kikuyu having come from ancient Egyp...

                                                     Githeri - a dish made of maize and beans Disclaimer:  Warning: This is not a cooking guide. It’s a survival manual for marriages ruined by undercooked beans . Uncle Issa advises you to take   the information below with a pinch of salt (or maybe some chili, like in fried Githeri!). These are my humorous observations, not a recipe for marital bliss or a guarantee of viral fame like that Githeri Man. If you need expert advice, find it elsewhere, not here. Read till the end, with a smile! What a name for such a delicious meal! Meet  Githeri , a beloved Kenyan staple with deep roots in the Kikuyu community. This isn’t just any ordinary meal—it’s a time-honored dish once reserved for the discerning tastes of Kikuyu elders and governing councils. Today, it’s a nationwide favorite, cherished f...

                                                                           African boys—Wikimedia Commons Introduction Among the Kikuyu people of Kenya, naming a child is a deeply symbolic act that reflects a rich cultural heritage, strong family ties, and respect for ancestry. This tradition is not merely about giving identity—it’s a way of preserving lineage and affirming one’s place in the extended family. The naming process follows a structured order grounded in seniority and ancestral reverence. Typically, the firstborn son is named after his paternal grandfather, while the first daughter is named after her paternal grandmother. The second son is given the name of his maternal grandfather, and the second daughter takes the name of her maternal grandmother. This sequence continues with the third...

  Question Help me with my soap making project. I made a bar soap but the results were not something to write home about. I used 2000 ml palm oil, 300ml lye (Sodium hydroxide) and 800 ml of water. I heated to the oil to a low temperature just to dilute it. Then I mixed the lye with water till it disolved, before I poured the Oil into the water. I stired with a stick because my electric hand mixer got spoiled the last time I used it. The soap gelled in seconds as I stired so that as I was putting it in the mold, I was literally scooping it. Ideally I should be able to pour out a thick liquid. Now the soap is crystalline hard, and it disintegrates when cutting instead of getting neat cuboids. The Questions are: Which ingredients were too much or too little? How can I achieve a soap that is easy to pour in the mold? How do I achieve a soap that does not become rock hard when it sets? Finally, my soap is an orange colour due to the palm oil. What is the most cost effective method for b...