Night time temperatures on the summit are well below freezing. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the. Facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of african society and the. The first footnote insists that westerners have mistaken the phonetics of the tribes name. Kenyatta s facing mount kenya, published in 1938 after kenyatta, then in his forties, had studied for three years with bronislaw malinowski. Told from an african standpoint, the book shows both the rich culture of the gikuyu people, as well as the dangers of european influence over a population of people whose entire lives are based on social customs and religious ideas.
As professor malinowski wrote in his introduction, it is a really competent and instructive contribution to african ethnography by a scholar of pure african parentage. Facing mount kenya is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary africa, but a work of considerable literary merit. Facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of african society and the nature of the african mind facing mount kenya is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary africa, but a. Facing mount kenya is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary africa, but a. This short book gives valuable insight into the kikuyu traditions and customs and denounces the arrogant and racist attitude of some colonial administrators. The southfacing side of mount kenya receives more sunshine in the december to march period. The first man was known as gikuyu, and the first woman was called mumbi. Kenyatta takes the reader through the birth, initiation, sex, marriage, family and death of every gikuyu. With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable. Without this book i would have continued to think that slavery and colonisation was a good thing that benefitted africans the most just like other ignorant people think. He is a trained theologian, a motivational speaker, a professor of religion and ethics, and an ordained minister.
Besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenya has an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. Ngai lived at the top of mountain kirinyaga now known as mt kenya. Buy a cheap copy of facing mount kenya book by jomo kenyatta. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Kasisi facing mount kenya develops and offers training programmes in areas of education, leadership, research, capacity building, professional integrity, and service. It is unique in anthropological literature for it gives an account of the social institutions and religious rites of an african people, permeated by the emotions that give to customs and observances their meaning. Kenyatta, later kenya s first president, wrote this vivid collection of essays for bronislaw malinowskis anthropology seminar at the london school of economics and published them in britain in 1938 as a monograph on the life and customs of the kikuyu people before colonial conquest. Also, you can read online facing mount kenya full book.
Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is a monograph on the life and customs of the gikuyu people of central kenya prior to their contact with europeans. Facing mount kenya is an excellent anthropological study that defined the kenyan national narrative. Facing mount kenya was translated into naushangilia mlima wa kenya by veteran late journalist lawrence john kibui. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Tribal origin and kinship system the gikuyu system of land tenure economic life industries system of education initiation of boys and girls sex life among young people marriage system the gikuyu system of government religion and ancestor worship the. With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of african society and the nature of the african mind. Facing mount kenya by jomo kenyatta, 1965, vintage books edition, in english facing mount kenya 1965 edition open library.
Facing mount kenya is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of african society and the nature of the african mind. Besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenyahas an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. Kenyattas text fails to provide the recognizable figure of the author that is necessary for the autobiographical moment and, in a larger context, the philosophical moment of selfknowledge to occur. Four different ethnic tribes live around the mountain. It also hosts kasisi online academy, kasisi vlog, gikuyu database, and kasisi publications. Kenyattas primary purpose in writing this book was to give a true description of the african culture. The book was published by the east african publishing house in 1966. The books introduction was written by anthropologist bronislaw malinowski, who mentored kenyatta while both were at the london school of. Like they speak as if it was some how beneficial to an african to work for them instead for himself and to make sure that he will receive this benefit they do their best to take away his land and leave him with no alternative. Apr 05, 2011 besides its continuing value for an understanding of the problems of kenya, facing mount kenyahas an enduring place in the literature of social anthropology. Facing mount kenya by jomo kenyatta, paperback barnes.
Kenya, jomo keyatta establishes the history and tradition of the gikuyu society. Jomo kenyatta was born in 1889 in gatundu of kiambu county in kenya. A social history of forest commons in southern mount kenya. Kenyatta, later kenyas first president, wrote this vivid collection of essays for bronislaw malinowskis anthropology seminar at the london school of economics and published them in britain in 1938 as a monograph on the life and customs of the kikuyu people before colonial conquest. He defends the african tradition and condemns the british rule in kenya. Kenyatta writes in this text, the cultural and historical traditions of the gikuyu people have been verbally handed down from generation to. The light they saw at the top of the mountain, which they called ira, was in fact snow and ice.
Told from an african standpoint, the book shows both the rich culture of the gikuyu people, as well as the. Aug 19, 2010 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Climbing mount kenya, hiking route prices, trek gears. Depending on the study guide provider sparknotes, shmoop, etc. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is a monograph on the life and customs of the gikuyu people of central kenya prior to their contact. I am now ready to tackle mt kenya beginning with the lenana peak. In the time of creation, god could only descend to earth in a place of absolute and divine purity. In the june to october period the northfacing rock climbs and southfacing ice climbs are best. Facing mount kenya is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary africa. The very sight and sound of kikuyu tribal life presented here are at once comprehensive and intimate, and as precise as they are compassionate. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Jul 09, 2009 109yearold veteran and his secrets to life will make you smile short film showcase duration. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the bible. Jomo kenyattas facing mount kenya is read as a work of anthropology.
Kenyattas facing mount kenya, published in 1938 after kenyatta, then in his forties, had studied for three years with bronislaw malinowski. As a firsthand account of a representative african culture, as an. Read online facing mount kenya and download facing mount kenya book full in pdf formats. Kasisi kiriaku wa kinyua is the founder and ceo of kasisi brands including kasisi facing mount kenya and kasisi global institute. Yet when an african writes a book about his own tribe, it seems almost. As a boy, kenyatta assisted his grandfather, who was a medicine man. Kenyattas partisanship doesnt fail to bleed into every other passage in the book. Temperatures vary considerably with height and with time of day. Other articles where facing mount kenya is discussed. The book discusses the family life, political structure, land tenure policies, educational system, and religious system of the tribe, as well as discussing many other aspects in an effort to educate the public about the. The book is a study of kenyattas own tribe, the kikuyu. Certain points are cited throughout his reading with respect to the justification of gikuyu soci. This short book gives valuable insight into the kikuyu.
Thank you mt jomo kenyatta for writting this book its a great achievement just like fighting for the independence of kenya. This book signaled another name change, to jomo burning spear kenyatta. With an introduction by bronislav malinkowski, facing mount keny. When the missionaries arrived, the africans had the land and the missionaries had the bible. The books introduction was written by anthropologist bronislaw malinowski, who mentored kenyatta while both were at the london school of economics. As some have already ventured to explain, facing mount kenya is not politically neutral. It was written by native kikuyu and future kenyan president jomo kenyatta.
Kenya leaves its reader with a peculiar sense of the absence of the author in what should be a portrait of the author. Facing mount kenya, first published in 1938, is an anthropological study of the people of the kikuyu ethnicity of central kenya. Kasisi kiriaku holds a phd degree in religion from the university of birmingham england. Read download facing mount kenya pdf pdf book library. Mount kenya mount kenya national park 2020 all you. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. The kikuyu people believe that this place was the highest peak of the mountain they called kirinyaga meaning a place of light and darkness. Among the summaries and analysis available for facing mount kenya. Download full facing mount kenya book in pdf, epub, mobi and all ebook format.