Ameru
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The Ameru tribe inhabits the Meru region of Kenya. They speak the Meru language.
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[edit] Location
The Ameru are a community living primarily on the agricultural northeastern slope of Mount Kenya in the Eastern Province of Kenya. The name "Meru" refers to both the people and the location, as for many years there was only one geo-political district for the Meru people. This changed in 1992 when the district was divided into three: Meru, Nyambene, and Tharaka-Nithi. These people are unrelated to the Meru people in north Tanzania, other than that they are both Bantu-speaking. The Meru are primarily agrarian, with some animals. Their home life and culture is similar to other Highland Bantus. The Tharaka live in the dry desert area, a much harsher life than most Meru.
[edit] History
The Meru history spans about three centuries. There are no written records for the first two centuries and what may be learned must come from memories of the community's elders. The predominant tradition has to do with a place called Mbwa. This tradition tells how the Meruan ancestors were captured by the Nguuntune (the "red people", literally the "red clothes", generally taken to mean the Arabs) and taken into captivity on the island of Mbwa. Because conditions were intolerable, secret preparations were made to leave Mbwa. According to some oral tradition sources was located in present day Yemen. Some identify Mbwa with Manda Island near Lamu and the water as the ocean channel. When the day came to leave Mbwa, a corridor of dry land is said to have been created for the people to pass through the Red Sea. They later followed a route that took them to the hills of Marsabit, eventually reaching the Indian Ocean coast. There they stayed for some time; however, due to climatic conditions and threats from the Arabs, they traveled farther south until they came to the Tana River basin. Here they separated from the Chuka people. Most traditions say the rest went as far south as Tanzania until finally reaching the Mount Kenya area. This seems to combine two separate myths of origin from different segments of Meru history, one from the north and another from the east. The eastern origin tradition indicates westward migration from the coast. This correlates with traditions of other Bantu peoples like the Giriama and the Pokomo. The Meru people have traditionally been considered to be Bantu. The Meru are actually of mixed origin, with some claiming an origin from the north or west, as well as the coastal origins. Cushites referred to as Mwoko in Meru traditions were already living there when the Bantu groups arrived in various stages of migration. The Meru are most closely related to the Chuka, but share many similarities with the Embu and Kikuyu as well.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Education
Meru have had a strong educational foundation provided by Christian mission schools and are among the most influential ethnic groups in Kenya.
[edit] Languages
The languages of Meru, Chuka, Embu and Kikuyu are somewhat understandable to one another with some substantial differences. The Meru speak at least seven different dialects, but the Bible translation being used is in the Imenti dialect. The differences in the dialects reflect the varied Bantu origins and influences from Cushite and Nilotic, as well as different Bantu, neighbors. As a whole Meru exhibits much older Bantu characteristics in grammar and phonetic forms than the neighboring languages. Even so, it still bears a close resemblance to Kikuyu and Kamba.
[edit] Family Traditions
In traditional rural areas the Meru have fairly strict circumcision customs that affect all of life. From the time of circumcision, boys no longer have contact with their mother and girls no longer have contact with their father. A separate house is built for the sons and the mother leaves their food outside the door. This does vary to some degree depending on the level of urban influence, but is still practiced in some parts of Meru region.
[edit] Politics and tribal alliances
In the past the Meru were in a coalition with the Embu and Kikuyu which yielded some political power. The coalition, called Gikuyu-Embu-Meru Association (GEMA), is not as strong as it once was, but the Meru typically vote with the opposition. This does vary from location to location, but would generally hold true. Developments under the multi-party experiment since 1992 has renewed an informal political alliance between GEMA peoples and much of the Luo "community.
[edit] List of prominent Ameru
- Hon. Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera, current Director Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC), Kenya [1]
- Francis Muthaura, current Head of Public Service & Secretary of the Cabinet, Kenya.
- Edward H Ntalami, current Chief Executive, Capital Markets Authority, Kenya.
- David Mwiraria, former Finance Minister, Kenya.
- Kiraitu Murungi, current Minister of Energy, Kenya.
- Eng. Erastus K. Mwongera, former permanent secretary of Ministry of Roads, Ministry of Water and Ministry of Lands, Kenya.
- Dr.Kilemi Mwiria, Current assistant minister of education,Kenya.
