19/01/2025
🌄 Meru Prayers: How Traditional Merus Worshipped 🙏
💫 Private Prayers:
A Mumeru always invoked God in daily life. Even today, many of our grandparents who never attended church still pray constantly. 🙌 They look heavenward and say a word, trusting God in all things. For instance, instead of saying, “See you tomorrow,” they’d say, “If God wishes, I will see you tomorrow.” 🌅
Prayers were made every morning before sunrise and evening after sunset, facing the sun.
🗣️ Example Prayer:
“We Murungu, Kini Kiiru ningukuria unthethie mbithire ndiina twana tutwingi, twiji na tukenye. Nani ngukuria umpe ng’ombe na mburi cia kubarera.”
(Almighty God, I ask you to bless me with many children—boys and girls—and livestock to provide for them.)
🎉 Public Prayers:
At gatherings, prayers were offered at the end of meetings. A Njuri Ncheke elder would lead, and the community responded with “Thaai” (Yes God).
For example:
Leader: Ndaikia mata nja ya M’Mwenda irobua. (I pray that the family of M’Mwenda be blessed.)
Response: Thaai!
🌿 Other Spirits:
Ancestors’ spirits 🕊️ were believed to watch over the community, honored by offering a portion of meals.
Nthaka cia Ngai – God’s warriors who protected the people. 🛡️
Nkoma – Spirits in forests or caves, respected and appeased with sacrifices.
👉 Fun fact: It’s still taboo to kill a python or touch fallen sacred trees like the mugumo! 🌳
