Hello my name is Maina. I am doing research on my grandfather. When he was a little boy in the year 1900, he was abducted by white people and they brought him to Europe. He did not remember the name of his village or country. But he remembered the names of his family members: Keriu, Jomo, Bonjo, William and his sister he said "Leise"?? and my name is Maina. Am I a descendent of the Kikuju tribe?
I hope one person will take a heart and help me in my search. Thank you
Maina, It is possible that you are a descendant of the Kikuyu tribe, but the name Maina is also found among The Luhya and Kalenjin tribes. From the names you have given, I cannot tell if your grandpa was a Kikuyu unless you provide more details.
Emotions are the greatest enemy of rational arguments
Posts: 3133 | Location: Neither here nor there | Registered: 03 May 2005
Thank you for replying. Let me explain a bit more, about this confusing story. My grandfather was born around 1885 or 1887. Nobody knows for sure. When he was around 10 years old a German man abducted him and brought him to Germany. When I was born grandfather was already dead. And my grandmother told me little stories about him. That his father Keriu took him along sometimes when he went out hunting and also that he showed him how to use an arrow and so on. I was interested as a child but later I forgot. 5 years ago my mother died. And when I cleaned up her apartment I found an interesting paper.Somebody had written information down that my grandfather told this person. He was talking about that he did not remember the name of his village but that it was one days march from Grand Bassa ( But my research indicates for me that it was maybe Mombasa). He said that he lived in the inland, nearby a river and one of his half brothers was killed by a crocodile. He explained that his father Keriu owned a big property and that he had about 5 wifes and his grandfather Bono or Bonjo had about 100 wifes and was an important man in the region, like a chief of tribe.. He explained that he was called Kanga Willi, and another half brothers name was William Bro.Oh and one brothers name was Jomo.He said that Jomo worked in the post office at the port. He talked about that his father died when he was small and that the burial was an important matter. The deceased was wrapped in cloth and buried in the ground and no earth was supposed to touch his body. Then he talked about his mother, her name was Bishu ( we do not know how to spell that). And he explained that his mother was from the "Cape". And emphasized that he and his father were not from South Africa. He said that after his father had died, some time later his mother was remarried. She, her new husband some other people (relatives?) and her children went to Cape town and later they went to Luederitzbucht(Namibia?) and that's where he was abducted. I know there are so many questions not answered. But grandfather was a littIe child when he left Africa and thats all he remembered. hope you can help me some more.
Originally posted by Maina1955: Thank you for replying. Let me explain a bit more, about this confusing story. My grandfather was born around 1885 or 1887. Nobody knows for sure. When he was around 10 years old a German man abducted him and brought him to Germany. When I was born grandfather was already dead. And my grandmother told me little stories about him. That his father Keriu took him along sometimes when he went out hunting and also that he
showed him how to use an arrow and so interested as a child but later I forgot. 5 years ago my mother died. And when I cleaned up her apartment I found an interesting paper.Somebody had written information down that my grandfather told this person. He was talking about that he did not remember the name of his village but that it was one days march from Grand Bassa ( But my research indicates for me that it was maybe Mombasa). He said that he lived in the inland, nearby a river and one of his half brothers was killed by a crocodile. He explained that his father Keriu owned a big property and that he had about 5 wifes and his grandfather Bono or Bonjo had about 100 wifes and was an important man in the region, like a chief of tribe.. He explained that he was called Kanga Willi, and another half brothers name was William Bro.Oh and one brothers name was Jomo.He said that Jomo worked in the post office at the port. He talked about that his father died when he was small and that the burial was an important matter. The deceased was wrapped in cloth and buried in the ground and no earth was supposed to touch his body. Then he talked about his mother, her name was Bishu ( we do not know how to spell that). And he explained that his mother was from the "Cape". And emphasized that he and his father were not from South Africa. He said that after his father had died, some time later his mother was remarried. She, her new husband some other people (relatives?) and her children went to Cape town and later they went to Luederitzbucht(Namibia?) and that's where he was abducted. I know there are so many questions not answered. But grandfather was a littIe child when he left Africa and thats all he remembered. hope you can help me some more.
Thank you
Kanga willi sounds Bantu.All i might tell is that some of the name sounds like of Bantu origin.More information might be vital to conclude though.
Maina sounds kikuyu,my bros name is maina, the name of the clan,but most of the names sound coastarian, Taita or Minjikenda. what are the names of your mother, your sisters or brothers, that could help too.
We love you regardless of your tribe. welcome back home!
"ad rather have bad times with you, than good times with somoene else.(dedication to ma boys makwa..3 of them..)
Posts: 187 | Location: THAILAND | Registered: 30 August 2007
Please tell me more. Are the Bantu from Kenia. Which tribes are you thinking about? Which names are Banutu which sound Kikuyu to you?
Thank you
Bantu consist of many tribes that are related.Kanga willi sound like a name inspired from swahili language.Kanga is swahili for guinea fowl.This might mean to narrowing down to the coastal tribes the mejikenda.They are 9 tribes that are closely, related.Again it make sense as there are many rivers draining to the ocean.One question though, Why do you think that your grandpa came from Kenya? I mean in the late 1800, Kenya might not have been demarcated to modern 'kenya'.Kanga willi name might also be shared by the people from Main land Tanzania.With him being a famous figure i think it is possible to track the family LINEAGE.
Thank you everybody for answering. I am very glad I found this website. Grandfather could not write nor read. So I just know the names from hear say. I am a woman, and since I live in America (almost 5 years now) I met a Kenian woman who told me that my name Maina is a Kenian boys name.Thats how I got the idea that my grandfathre might be from Kenia. My other name is Bishu or Bijou. Bishu was also the name of Kanga Willis mother. But Kanga said that his mother was South African and he insisted that he was not. So it must be a country nearby.And they must have been from a tribe where they understood each others language. My mother said when my grandfather spoke his name it sounded like N'Kanga. I have to find out. I owe this to the memory of my family. My mother said he was a goodhearted and kind father. And when I think about how some German people killed him in a sadistic and terrible way, it brakes my heart.
I want to add this. My grandmother, Kanga Willis wife was German too. She was a good woman and a wonderful grandmother. And she almost got killed herself in those days. Buts that's why she did not like her people either.
Maina, i am not sure why you said your family was not from South Africa, am sorry to say that 'Maina is a lady in SA" Jomo is common, Bele and Mbele are also common. please get further details and dont forget that we love you as you are. may God bless and lead you in this search, but please dont ignore the possibility of another tribe or country.
I have not been on this website for some time. But in the mean time I have changed my mind. I believe too that my family from my grandfathers side originates from South Africa. But what tribe has the name JOMO and Bele.
Sorry for what you are going through. My inclination, is for you to to learn a little about German colonial history, If I recall it right, Germany colonized Namibia which used to be SouthWest Africa and (German East Africa Protectorate)Tanganyika today Tanzania. When Germany was defeated during Second world war, the Republic of South Africa took over South west Africa and Britain took over Tanzania. It is most probable,using these facts that probably you Grandpa was originally from Namibia, because we know Germans had established themselves there as Germans Southwest Africa protectorate, secondly Soth Africa took over from Germans, therefore bringing in South Africa connection. This teritory became independent recently either late seventies or early Eighties From South Africa. Good Luck
