This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Ngugi Wa Thiongo's novel 'The River Between' exemplifies the complex relationship between tradition, culture, and faith in Kenya. The book tells the story of Muthoni, a character who dies after undergoing circumcision, a cultural practice that was vigorously preached against by European missionaries.
Her last words, 'I am a woman, beautiful in the tribe...', reflect the tension between cultural practices and Christian faith. In the decades since the missionaries arrived, this relationship has been a source of personal and societal tension.
European missionaries had different approaches to indigenous culture in various parts of Kenya. In Central Kenya, they declared many cultural practices 'ushenzi' or evil, and decreed that a mark of good education and true Christianity was a total departure from indigenous culture and traditions.
Many cultural practices, such as those related to birth, marriage, and death, were deemed retrogressive and incompatible with Christianity or modernity. However, the Christian faith was often mixed with European culture and traditions, which were dishonestly packaged as one.
As a result, many cultural practices were abandoned in favor of Western customs. For example, traditional liquor was replaced with Western beer and wine, and cultural dance was exchanged for the fox-trot and twist.
Today, many people in Kenya are re-defining a reasonable relationship between culture, faith, and modernity. They are seeking to retain and honor those aspects of culture and tradition that are beautiful and meaningful, while modernizing them to absorb current contextual realities.
For people of faith, cultural practices are only judged against the clear dictates of faith as defined in the Bible, not by the missionary. This is a continuing journey, and the push towards extremes will be constant.
As the writer notes, 'Join me in enjoying my African self today.'
