History of the Embu
Like most other Kenya bantus, the Embu are believed to have come from Central Africa during the Bantu migration. Embu oral traditions however give somewhat conflicting versions of their historical origin. One of the most widely accepted versions traces the origin of the Embu tribe to regions around Nyambene hills, north of Mt. Kenya. The story says that Mwene-Ndega, the first Embu ancestor lived with his wife Nthara in a grove near the present day Runyenjes town. From here, his descendants spread out and occupied other parts of what is Embu district today.
Mbeere tribe - cousins of the Embu people
The Mbeere people are a Kenya tribe very similar to the Embu. Mbeere and Embu oral history indicates that the two tribes were originally one Embu tribe. The Mbeere split from the Embu after an inter-clan war which the Embu clan won. After the victory, the Embu pushed the Mbeere to the drier and less fertile Kiangombe hills south of the Embu region. Despite this split, the two tribes co-existed peacefully. The Embu tribe often assisted the numerically smaller Mbeere tribe in times of drought, or when attacked by other tribes like the Akamba or Maasai.
Culture & Lifestyle of Embu tribe
Embu and Mbeere tribes share many common customs and rituals. Traditionally they had jointly owned sacred places called Matiiri. Like with most other bantu tribes, circumcision is an important rite of passage for Embu and Mbeere boys.
Among the Embu, the clan or extended family had less influence on family life than in other bantu tribes. When an Embu man marries, he would build his own home away from his father's home, and would manage his family almost independently.
Embu Economic Activities
Embu people are an agricultural tribe, growing maize, millet, sorghum, beans, cassava, and yams among other crops as subsistence food. They also rear domestic livestock in addition to growing cash crops such as Macadamia nuts, coffee and tea. Since the land of the Mbeere is drier and less fertile, Mbeere rely more on rearing small herds of domestic livestock. The Mbeere therefore often rely on their Embu cousins for food supplies especially in times of drought.
Religion
Like the Kikuyu, Aembu believed that their god, Ngai,lived on the top of Mount Kenya. Prayers and sacrifices were therefore traditionally made to this God. Today, most Embus are Christians.
