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~ All the Bantu communities believed in the existence of a supernatural power that
controlled their destiny. The Abaluhyia, for example called their God Were or Nyasaye,
the AgikuyuNgai etc.
~ The Bantu communities had diviners and medicineman. Among the Agikuyu
community, a medicine person was called mundu mugo.
~ The Bantu celebrated life both in song and dance. There were songs for initiations,
childbirth, marriage, harvest and funeral. The mood and style of their song and dances
varied depending on the occasion.
Political organization of the Bantu
~ All the Bantu communities in Kenya, except the Wanga sub-group of the Luhyia, had
decentralized forms of government.
~ The clan formed the basic political unit for all the Bantu communities. Each clan was
made up of related families. Leadership of the clan was in the hands of a council of elders
who played a pivoted role in solving disputes, decided on inter-tribal marriages,
maintaining law and order and making executive decisions affecting the community like
declaring war.
~ Among the Agikuyu and Ameru, the council was known as Kiama, Kambi among
Mijikenda, Njama among Ataveta and Abagata ba gesaku among the Gusii.
~ The Bantu had an age-set system that had some political significance. For example
among the Agikuyu, the boys joined the age-set after initiation to provide warriors who
defended the community from external attacks and raid other communities for cattle.
~ Among the centralized Wanga government, the king was known as Nabongo. His
office was hereditary. He was assisted by a chief minister and other officials with a
council of elders.
Economic organization of the Bantu
~ The Bantu kept Livestock like sheep, cattle and goats for milk, meat and skin. Dowry
was paid inform of livestock. Some communities used livestock as a form of currency in
barter trade.
~ They traded among themselves and also with their neighbours such as the Luo,
kalenjin and Maasai. They sold grains in exchange for baskets and fish from the Luo.
~ They practiced iron-smelting, making implements such as knives, hoes arrow heads
and spearheads. This sometimes also became trading items.
~ The Bantu practiced crop growing. They grew grains like millet, sorghum and cassava
among other crops mainly for food while the excess were sold to neighbours.
~ They practiced craft making pots and weaving baskets.
~ For the Bantu communities who lived along rivers and Lake Victoria, e.g. the Luhyia,
they practiced fishing.
~ Hunting and gathering was also done by some communities to supplement their food.
E.g. the Akamba.
~ Raiding other communities for cattle.