The Taita people, also known as the Wataita, are one of Kenya’s oldest Bantu communities, residing in the Taita-Taveta region that is at the foot of the Taita Hills.
This community is believed to have migrated from Central Africa together with other coastal Bantu communities. When they got to Shungwaya, the Taita migrated south to the Taita Hills due to attacks from the Cushites.
The Taita Hills have been their home for a long time, and they depend on agriculture as their source of livelihood.
They speak ‘Kidawida’, part of the larger Bantu family, which remains a strong marker of their identity, even when most of their traditional culture is evolving under the influence of modernization.
Rites of Passage
Male circumcision, which they refer to as “kuchwa”, was central to their traditional way of life that served as a critical step in transforming young boys, usually between the ages of 7 and 11, into men ready to take on adult responsibilities.
When it came to initiation, both boys and girls underwent seclusion and initiation rituals that marked their entry into adulthood.
Circumcision was not just a physical operation but an initiation into manhood, discipline, and social belonging.
Today, circumcision is being performed in hospitals, stripping the ritual of its communal and symbolic significance in many parts of Taita.
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Beliefs and Ancestral Practices
Mulungu is one supreme God that they believe in together with Milimu, ancestral spirits whom they call upon in times of calamity.
A unique Taita culture is the respect they show to the dead, traditionally the Taita believed that the bond between the living and the dead was important and continuous.
When someone died, they were first buried, then after about a year, their remains were exhumed, and the skull was severed from the rest of the body and placed in a sacred cave that was considered the rightful abode of the ancestors.
The caves were holy grounds where the living could connect with the spirits of their ancestors when seeking blessings and protection.
Although this ritual is no longer practiced today, the sacred caves remain sites of cultural significance, with skulls of the ancestors are still being preserved in some areas.
Cultural Practices
This community’s members like expressing themselves through music; they have interesting forms of traditional dances, the most fascinating of which is the pepo spirit-possession dance called Mwazindika.
Taitas are known for their diverse vernaculars and contributions to Kenyan music; one of the most well-known musicians was the composer Fadhili Williams, who wrote the popular love song ‘Malaika’ in the late 1950s.
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The spirit-possession dance stands out as mesmerizing, and it is also rooted in their rituals and beliefs.
This captivating dance was often performed during ceremonies where individuals were believed to be possessed by spirits.
Apart from Mwazindika, the Taita have embraced other types of music and dances that celebrate harvests, marriages, and community gatherings; all these show the spark of their social life.
As of today, most of the Taita cultures and rituals have been adapted to Western values and Christianity. This shows how Kenya’s culture is transforming rapidly.
Still, traces of the old ways remain in the sacred caves, the stories passed down by elders, and in the songs and dances that are still being performed at cultural festivals.
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Photo by Kwela News Network
