Because Kikuyu culture was oral, refined methods had been developed of passing knowledge to, and shaping the values of, future generations through, among other activities, stories. Many of the stories had become very elaborate and subtle, like myths, because they had been told in various forms over many generations. Kikuyu stories were filled with animals with human characteristics – both bad and good. One very dominant character in stories was in irimu, or a dragon. The irimu usually appeared in the guise of a handsome young man, but could also take other forms. He was a trickster and was ready to scare children and seduce young maidens with promises of good things, including marriage. Although the irimu looked like a handsome young man, he could transform himself into anything – even a tree, a giant gourd, or a plant – and disappeared into rivers and ponds, usually reappearing when young maidens went to fetch water.
Maathai, Wangari Muta. Unbowed. One woman’s story. Published by William Heinemann, 2006.
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