Gikuyu

The Gikuyu, also spelled Kikuyu and known as Akikuyu, are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. They are primarily concentrated in the central highlands of the country, including areas around Mount Kenya and extending into parts of the Nairobi metropolitan region. The Gikuyu speak the Gikuyu language and are typically bilingual, commonly using Swahili and English in education and public life.

The Gikuyu language is a Bantu language in the Niger-Congo family. It uses a Latin-based script and is taught in schools alongside Swahili and English. Literacy and language use vary by region, with strong Gikuyu usage in rural areas and ongoing efforts to promote media, literature, and education in the language.

Traditionally, Gikuyu social organization emphasized clans and lineage with age-sets in historical times. They have long been an agriculturist people, cultivating crops such as maize, beans, bananas, and managing livestock. During the colonial era, land policies and dispossession affected many families, and the Mau Mau movement—predominantly among Kikuyu communities—was a major phase in the struggle for independence. Kenya achieved independence in 1963, and a Kikuyu-led government emerged with Jomo Kenyatta as the first president.

Today the Gikuyu participate widely in Kenyan public life. Christianity is common, alongside adherence to traditional beliefs and practices. In modern times, Kikuyu culture remains visible in music, art, and daily life, with a substantial presence in urban centers and a sizeable diaspora.