Hi all,
The kikuyu community (and most of African traditional societies) used to have taboos that used to govern and put checks and balances on the community. They used to have the consequences for those who would default. Anyone remember any of these taboos?

Let me start:
1. I remember we used to be told that if you shaved and your hair was picked by birds, you would go mad (lol!)
2. If an owl "cried" (what do you call the cry of an owl?) near a village, somebody would die in that village especially the side it was facing.

Others please...

yes.I remember those ones.
1. that if you pointed at a grave,your index finger could deform

2. That if you whistled at Night, your home would be invaded by thugs(i still dont whistle at night)

3.that if you poured hot ash on Feaces(those who used to 'help themselves'on the wayside) their backside would rot

4. That if your Granny told you never to Marry and you go ahead and marry, something bad will happen to you (kírumi)

5.That if you Married a girl with 'Red thighs' (are there really girls with red thighs?) all your kids would die and eventually you would also die....

.....and that if a bee buzzed around you,a someone will visit your home? (we used to value visitors quite a lot back then)

theres the other one that if a person was lying down and you happened to cross over their bodies those people would either die or if a female she would become barren.

Lol, and that if you slept on your back on a stormy(with Thunders) Rainy day, you could die

we have the same taboos here.
others...
1. if a woman whistles, she'll grow a beard
2. if you walk(step) over somebody's legs, that person wouldnt grow taller

there is this one about girls not supposed to climb trees and ride bicycles...what happens if they did? lose their virginity?
also, there is this funny sound kids make with their lower lip and tongue,it sounds really nasty, parents dont like it. i have never really understood why. my dad used to shout at us when we would do it. you guys know?

if u r choked by saliva u would eat meat that day
when u ng'oa ur tooth u throw it between ur legs saying" cucu he igego ringi" so that u can get another tooth.
if u r by a fireside &the smoke comes ur side u r the one who defecatse by the roadside.
if u jump or pass over(gutagarara) a lady she will give birth to a kitten

D (LOL!) you guys are so !!!! you have reminded me so much! Ati Kariuki you still do not whistle at night? ha ha ha!!!

more...
1. ati if you crossed the small finger the 4th one when in trouble, you will escape as you will have "tied" the mind of the other party (we used to use this a lot in school in vain)!
2. who will remind me what one would do to have safari ants (thuraku) attack you at night?
3. if you run round a mugumo (fig) tree 9 times, you would change your gender (we never attemped this for fear of the consequences, hehehe)

Ngunjiri,
i would try that one. i think its being a boy. No fear.

guys thanks for the gud laugh..
Ngujiri,i attempted the mugumo tree but stopped on the 6th round when i imagined i was growing male parts

i think the one for gutagarara had loads of theories hahahaha!twins, barren, kitten,death, rats name it.

If u see a naked woman u become blind-am sure the boys were definitely chunguliang'.

if u look up a coconut tree the majini will hunt u-for those of us who visited mombasa them days

we were not supposed to make some funny noise with our tongues coz it would attract snakes-had to try never saw even one

Kariuki- did u say red thighs? how red? (lol)
Ngujiri- Have no idea on thuraku....

and guys do you believe in kirumi eg like if your mother curses you and dies do u think it would haunt u?

Thayu all!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Maria:
there is this one about girls not supposed to climb trees and ride bicycles...what happens if they did? lose their virginity?
QUOTE]

Maria, I cant help going back to Literature, In figurative language, does tree (muti)have the connotations it has among the Gikuyu. If so, I can understand why a girl would have her cherry popped.

what is the implication in gikuyu?

Wagatere....wacha. eti u started growing male parts? yaani that thing was for real? Lol. Ungemalizia tu

Kariuki hehehe guess that was just my imagination.

Today in classic they were discussing about 'red thighs' and i was shocked how people believe in that curse. guys were callin and saying its damn real...does anyone here believe in it? Well i don't!!

Wagatere, i wouldint risk trying.
Actually i have always tried to imagine how red are these thighs?
is it literally red or there is some hidden meaning to it?
Ngunjiri could you be in the know?