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They believed in life after death with good people going where rains come from when
they die.Libations were offered to ancestors to quench their thirst and relieve their hunger
Building houses in the Ameru community was the work of women while men defended
the community.
Economic organization of the Ameru
~ The Ameru cultivated grain crops like millet, peas, black beans, cowpeas and miraa
among other crops mainly for food while the excess were sold to neighbours.
~ The Ameru kept Livestock like sheep. Goats and cattle for dowry payment and rituals
and also for milk, meat and skin.
~ They traded among themselves and with their neighbours. When the coastal traders
penetrated the interior, they exchanged goods with them
~ They practiced iron-smelting, making implements such as knives, spears and hoes
which enhanced their farming activities and trade.
~ They practiced craft making pots and weaving baskets.
~ Hunting and gathering was also done by Ameru to supplement their food.
Political organization of the Ameru
~ The basic political system was based on the family headed by a father.
~ The basic political unit was the clan. Several families made up a clan headed by a clan
elder.
~ The Ameru had a system of councils and age groups which oversaw the administration
of the community. Every Meru belonged to the relevant council. E.g. the children’s
council, council of elders’ council of warriors. The supreme council was known as Njuri
Ncheke.
~ The functions of the supreme council of elders included settling disputes, deliberating
on day to day activities, administering justice and handled disputes, inheritance disputes
and acted as a final court of appeal. It also officiated over religious ceremonies
~ The age set system provided the community with warriors who defended the
community from external aggression.
~ Religions leaders like prophets influenced the political administration for the Ameru.
~ Their system of government alternated between two organizations namely, Kiruga and
Ntiba every fourteen years and each had its own army regiment.
The Akamba
The Akamba are of the eastern Bantus who settled in Chyulu hills, Mbooni, Kitui and
Machakos.
Social organization
~ Like other Bantus, the Akamba were organized into clans whose members claimed
commondescent.
~ The Akamba practiced exogamous marriages. However their tradition allowed the
adoption of an outsider into a clan