Wangu wa Makeri

     When it comes down to history, fame, success, failure and events; it all boils down to individuals who shaped them and the magnitude of their impact in the society or better yet the peculiar attributes exuded by such people or events. Such people include Adolf Hitler, Dedan Kimathi, Ben Carson, Wangari Maathai and many others. Similarly, events such as the World War II, the fight for freedom by the MauMau, the fight to keep Uhuru Park by Wangari Maathai and many others.

     However, today's recap of history is not about any of those people or events I have named but rather about one woman who will not be scrapped out of history any time soon. She was born around the year 1856 to Mr. Gatuika Macharia and Mrs. Wakeru of Gitie Village in Kangema division, Muranga district. She attracted Makeri wa Mbogo of Ndorbo descent form Ethaga clan through her hard work on her parents land and soon landed herself a husband. History isn't clear about her status about having bore children as some claim she was barren others claim her children, born before she was appointed a colonial administrator, were named Nyakimotho, Nyambura, Wanguru, Muchiri, Gatuika and Mwangi. 

     Her appointment as the first and only female "headman", assistant chief, of Weithaga location during the entire colonial period took place in 1901 earning her the prestige of being the first Kikuyu female leader as well. She is well remembered as the woman who humiliated the menfolk of her time as she rode them like horses and quite promiscuous. Her downfall was led by the menfolk of Weithaga who were tired of her treatment and they revolted and plotted against her. It happened that fateful day when Wangu committed the ultimate insult against tradition and her office when she danced at an exclusive adult male dance, Kibata, as called by the Kikuyu, while she was naked. It is claimed that she saw her hero and lover, Karuri, dancing with youth and vigor, and couldn't resist the urge to join him and she joined in the dance  as she removed some of her clothing exposing her body, while others claimed that before joining the dance some of the men adjusted her ceremonial sword near her waist and it cut the strings to her traditional skirt, which dropped when it was cut loose exposing her nakedness as she danced.She became the subject of ridicule and forced to resign soon after.

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Leading with an iron fist

Trouping over the heads of men

All done with a bigger cause

Or all for some selfish reasons?

Being a feminist

Or a chauvinist

Should we take two seconds to analyze this?

Leading with an iron fist

Riding over the backs of men

Free humiliation

For menfolk of Weithaga

At the hand of Wangu

Not “My” Wangu

But Wangu wa Makeri

Leading with an iron fist

Her downfall caused by the hand of man