When We Began There Were Witchmen "d0e9026"

A

A - Plural prefix for words referring to human beings. Thus, Ameru means more than one Meru, A-Athi means more than one hunter, and so on.

A-Athi [or Aathi ] Forest hunters, who formed fringe groups increasingly distinct from mainstream Meru (agriculturalists, herders)while on migration. Each band of A-Athi formed a fringe Kiama or council. Over time, these bands evolved into food-seeking societies that used mild forms of supernaturally based extortion. Perceived by colonial administrators as witchcraft guilds, these groups were destroyed in the late 1920s (56 , 57 , 313 –22).

Achunku "Red men"; Europeans (121 ).

Acomba [or Achomba ] Meru term for (Kenya)coast dwellers (121 ).

African Native Courts (ANC) Originally established by E. B. Horne in 1911, these were revived and nurtured across Meru after 1919 in attempts by the colonial administration to gradually replace Meru tradition with English law. Also known as Local Native Tribunals (270 ).

Agambe See Mugambe

Age-sets Meru social groupings based on age. Membership in age-sets was fixed and permanent. Each age-set was given a name, and historical events were dated by the age-set whose members were warriors at that time. For example, the British conquest took place while Murungi were warriors (11 –14).

Akenye Virgins, unmarried girls (286 ).

All-Meru Local Native Council (LNC) Created in 1925 in an attempt by the colonial administration to gradually replace Meru tradition with English forms of administration (271 ).

Aruau Junior elders; the heads of families. Apprenticed to senior elders until their sons had reached the age of warriorhood (8 ).

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Askari ya Kanga "Blanket police": Meru warriors picked by colonial administrators to enforce British authority. Each was given a blanket to symbolize his position. Askari means "guard" or "police" in Ki-Swahili (136 ).

Aturi Ironsmiths; the earliest Meru fringe group (55 ).

Authi Battle vow; a public declaration by each warrior on the eve of battle of what he intended to achieve. Warriors danced out their vows, naked and fully armed, before the entire ridgetop community (144 ).