MERU PEOPLE OR AMERU

MERU:-
BACKGROUND:-
The meru people or ameru are a Bantu ethnic group that inhabit the Meru region of Kenya on the fertile land of north and Eastern slopes of mount Kenya. The name “Meru” refers to both the people and the region which many years was the only administrative unit. The Great Meru was divided into three administrative unit, Meru north (Nyambene) and Meru south (Tharaka-nith)

The Ameru people comprise of nine sections namely the Igoji, Imenti, Tigania, Mitine, Igembe, Mwimbi, Muthambi, Chuka and Tharaka. The Ameru are however unrelated to the Wameru of northern Tanzania, other than that they are both arid forming Bantu communities

LANGUAGE:-
The Meru speak the Kimeru language. Kimeeru language. The Kimeru such as Kikamba, Kiemba, Mbeere Kikuyu and Kikisiri. More importantly each of the dialectic is a reflection of previous migratory patterns, the lewe of Intra community interactions and the influences of others adjacent Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic communities. As a whole language scholars have demonstrated that the Kiimeru language exhibits much older Bantu characteristic in grammar and phonetic forms than the others neighbouring Bantu language

HISTORY
The Meru have a fascinating oral narrative of their migration to their present location (North East of Mount Kenya) after a period of slavery. The place of bandage is traced by historians to have been most likely some  where are the far North of the Eastern African coast. It is also believed that the descendants of the Meru were among the earliest original inhabitants of this region, a place by the names “Mbwa” or “Mboa”

In brief, it recounts that, the Meru were once enslaved by the “Red people”. They eventually escaped end in their exodus came across a large body of water called Mbwa, which they crossed by magical means. The details of the tradition are replete with parallels to the old testament and also contain reference s to events described in the new testament. This has led many to speculate that the Meru are perhaps the descendants of one of the lost tribe of Israel, or that the profound cultural contact with people that certainly were (such as the fatashin of Ethiopia)
 THE RED PEOPLE AND THE EXODUS:-
According to tradition the Meru once lived in a state of slavery for away from their present homeland, under a people called antuba ngu ntuune (meaning Red people or Red clothes)

The kingdom of the red people was powerful and often harst upon his subject but no one knows for sure who the Red people actually were

If we take red to refer to skin colour then these people were mostly likely Arabs for the Europeans had not Yet arrived in East Africa. If “red” refers to dress, however, then their  identify  if any one’s guess especially as the Maasai, Samburu and other Neolitic tribes who are nowdays known for wearing red-only adopted that tradition a century or so ago.

The place where the Meru were enslaved is not convincingly located. Some say that it was called Mbwa or Mbwaa (meaning the body of water the Meru later crossed). Some said that wa Mbwara Matanga on the western peninsula of Manda island in the Lamu archipelago off the Northeast west of Kenya, some say it was Yemen in the side of the rd sea.

Their bondage lasted until the leader of Red people started killing all the Meru’s male children immediately after birth. But one children appeared very handsome and his mother kept him in a  basket, she made and the prodigical child became Known as Mwitheche hiden oone. The child became known as koomenjwe (koomenjoe) and Muthum he grew up and became very great propleit. Koomenjwe adviced that, the elders be hidden and all old livestock-cows goats sheeps and donkeys be killed instead. When that was done their blood was enough to flow as the enemies wanted But the success of this test was not accepted either.

ESCAPE AND EXODUS.
The 5th test was truly imposible. It required the Meru to forge a spear that could torch both the earth and the sky. The Meru started making it straight away but it kept breaking. Koomenjwe and the elders failed to come up with a solution simply  abandoned the whole task and instead conceived the idea of organizing the people for escape. For this reason the Meru later on called this speer Itumoria Murito (the spear made for the trek).
 CROSSING THE WATER:-
During the exodus, the Meru reached a very large water body (Mboa, Mbwaa or Mbwa). Here they suffered a lot so much. So that a sacrifice to God to be made. The elders went to prophet (Mugwe) for the sacrifice and instruction. Mugwe asked for three young men for the sacrifice and Gaita, Kiuma and Muthetu volunteered.  The three main Meru clans named in their honour and all others Meru clans stern from these. Once the sacrifice had been concluded. Mugwe gave instruction to the elders for a successful escape.

POLITICAL SYSTEM:-
From 17th century, the Meru have been governed by elected and hierarchical council of elders from the clan had right up to the  supreme Njuri Ncheke council. To be a member of the Njuri Ncheke is the highest ranks in which Meru can aspire. The elders forming Njuri Ncheke are carefully selected and comprise mature, composed respected and corruptible members of the community.

The function of the Njuri Ncheke as to make and executive community laws, to listen and to settle disputes and pass on community knowledge and norms across the generations in their role as the custodians of traditional culture.

The Njuri Ncheke is also influential in the social-economic and political decisions making among the Meru.
 CULTURE AND FAMILY TRADITION:-
The Meru are primary agrarian and their home life and culture is similar to others highland Bantus. The Meru have maintained their culture. Example circumcision is still a mandatory rite of passage for boys during which time cultural education including community norms and expectations such as respect for elders and protection of children and taught in a seduction period of almost a month.

EDUCATION:-
The Meru had a strong modern educational heritage provided by the Christian missionaries. The main education institutions were started or  sponsored by the Catholic. The Methodists and the Presbyterian churches the Great Meru has numerous institutions of learning including primary schools, secondary technical institutities and universities. Example Kenya Methodist University (KEMU) established in 2006 Kenyatta University
ECONOMIC
The Meru are primary agrarian growing variety of crops and keeping livestock. The Meru are owning soils which is fertile and good climatic conditions allowing them to produce wheat, barley potatoes millet, sorghum and maize, tea, coffee banans and cash crops. The  Meru are the first Africans to grow coffee in Kenya in the early 1930’s

The Meru also keep livestock for both substance and commercial purposes, these includes dairy and beef cattle, goats, sheep, honey bees.


In tourism the Meru have mount Kenya, National parks. In mining activities in also expected to pick up once.