Kamba Beliefs, Folklore, and Magic

The Kamba believed in a monotheistic, invisible and transcendental God, Ngai or Mulungu, who lived in the sky (Yayayani or Ituni). The traditional Kamba perceived the spirits of their departed ones, the Aimu or Maimu, as the intercessors between themselves and Ngai Muumbi Mwatwangi/Mulungu. They were remembered in family rituals, offerings and libations at individual altars.

The Kamba creation story and folklore

Like other communities the Kamba also has their own traditional creation story. They believed that their god, Mulungu, created a man and woman and placed them on a rock, Nzaui, where their footprints, including those of their livestock, can be seen to this day.

Mulungu then caused a great rainfall. From the many anthills around, a man and a woman came out. These were the initiators of the ‘spirits clan’- the Aimo.

It so happened that the couple from heaven had only sons, while the couple from the anthill had only daughters. Naturally, the couple from heaven paid dowry for the daughters of the couple from the anthill. The family and their cattle greatly increased in numbers.

With this prosperity, they forgot to give thanks to their creator. Mulungu punished them with a great famine. This led to dispersal as the family scattered in search of food. Some became the Kikuyu, others the Meru, while some remained as the original people, the Kamba.