*This page will be updated as I learn more.*
The Kuria (ker-ee-ah) people are divided into 16 clans. Each clan has its own totem and its own god. This god gives each clan a traditional medicine that can be used to poison other clans. They also worship the sun. The clans are constantly battling each other.
The chief of the clan is called the Mkuu (mm-koo). He makes the decisions for the clans and has the power to kill through traditional witchcraft. Under him is the Waotaji, or dreamer.
The Waotaji is like a prophet. The ancestors give him messages through dreams. Each dream is accompanied by directions to make a certain traditional medicine. For example, if the dream is about protecting the clan, the ancestors will give instruction for a certain medicine that will give this protection.
There are two types of dreams. One type is for the clan as a whole, mostly about protection, safety, health, etc. But it can also be about warring with the other clans. The other type is more like a vision. In the past there were visions about the future that came true (I will include these on another page of stories). It is interesting to note that since the gospel arrived in this area there have been no more visions that came true.
The Waotaji (wah-oh-tah-gee) tells the dream to the Mkuu who decides what to do with the information. The Mkuu decides what to do and then tells the Wajumbe, or messengers. Their job is to inform the clan.
Another form of revelation from the ancestors can go something like this: during a traditional dance a man might come and disrupt the drums and dancing. He then then makes his announcement. The youth who are dancing will laugh at him and the dancing will continue. This happens three times and then he leaves. The Wazee (wah-zay; elders of the clan) will then go to him and ask him what the sun told him.
Many of their traditional ceremonies include facing the sun, taking a drink of milk, and then spitting it out towards the sun. This is part of worshipping the sun that I will have to explore further.
On days when the Wazee are offering sacrifices to their god or the ancestors, the clan is told not to work. When Christians began refusing to follow this order the Wazee changed their days of sacrifice to Sunday because that is a day the Christians wouldn't be working in their fields. If someone does not obey, it is believed that something bad will happen to them such as getting sick and dying.
December is the time for circumcision. The Waotaji receives a dream telling him when the clan can start. Then the Wazee from each clan then go to a sacred place at the river. There is a ceremony and probably prayers, but I am not clear on these details. They offer food to the ancestors/gods, then go a short distance away. When they return they find that some of the food is gone. Whichever clans' food was taken are the clans that will circumcise that year. It is believed that it is not good for neighboring clans to circumcise at the same time. This is because the celebrations will cause more fighting.
Each clan has 8 main families. The highest ranking boy from each of the chosen clans is brought to the sacred place at the river. The go into the water and dive under. When they come out they have been circumcised. I am not sure if they believe that their god or the ancestors do this.
After this ceremony the chosen clans can begin the circumcisions. As I learn more details of this process I will share them.
