" I have tried my best to record facts as I know them, mainly through a lifetime of personal experiences My chief object is not to enter into controversial discussion but to let the truth speak for itself (Kenyatta xvii).".
Jomo Kenyatta's Facing Mount Kenya is read as a work of anthropology. Kenyatta takes the reader through the birth, initiation, sex, marriage, family and death of every Gikuyu. Kenyatta's primary purpose in writing this book was to give a "true" description of the African culture. He uses his knowledge of the roles of males and females in the Gikuyu society to portrait a convincing Gikuyu society. He also tries to clarify the misunderstandings of polygamy and male and female circumcision. .
Males and females both play important roles in the Gikuyu society. Kenyatta displays this by dividing the roles of males and females throughout the entire book. There are certain jobs that the man can only do and there are certain jobs that woman can only do. Kenyatta writes, " the system of division of labour between men and women, at home and in trades, is very important among the Gikuyu (Kenyatta 84)." Pottery and basket making are examples of jobs that are completely done from start to finish by women. The Gikuyu men are in charge of iron making. Both men and women work together in constructing a hut, however, they each have certain roles. Kenyatta states, "The work of cutting wood necessary for building falls on men; women take the responsibility of providing thatching grass and other materials (Kenyatta 95)." Men and women also share work during the harvest seasons. The men cut out maize or millet stalks, while the women do the actual harvesting and carrying the harvest home. These are just few of the examples of the roles that both sexes play. Kenyatta uses the roles of men and women to provide a more accurate picture of the Gikuyu daily activities. .
Eating and drinking is an important aspect of the Gikuyu culture; and it should not be overlooked.
The soul of a civilization is its religion, and it dies with its faith. " Will Durant (1885-1981). Facing Mt. Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta's ethnography, was written in the 1930's during the early years of British colonialism in Kenya. The Gikuyu traditionally were monotheists, believing in a unique...
These descriptions seem to be exactly what the planet is facing now. ... For example, in the next 30 years the population of Kenya will jump from 23 million to 79 million"(1 Anastasia,pg1). ... It would be 15 years in a row if it hadn't been for the volcanic eruption of Mt. ...
