In former times, one of the duties of the ukuru was to summon the kiama for the discussion of questions of national importance.
The elders of ukuru also decide the date of the circumcision feasts, and other similar questions.
It is also the function of the ukuru of the tribe to settle when the time has arrived for the holding of the great itwika feast, in which the generation changes from Mwangi to Maina, or vice versâ.
As a general rule the athamaki are men advanced in years, but there is no fixed rule as to this; many are middle-aged or younger. Occasionally one may see quite a young man, practically a youth, among the elders. The elders explained this as follows: the election to the muthamaki grade lies entirely with the athamaki; if they see a young man whose prudence and knowledge has impressed them favourably, they may elect him into their grade; further, the family of a muthamaki should always be represented in this grade, and therefore if one dies and leaves no near relation other than a young man, they will elect his son or brother in his place even if he is quite a youth. Such elections are, of course, rare and are only mentioned in case these exceptions should be noticed. They are more frequently found among the A-Kamba, as the ithembo, or sacred places, are inherited from father to son, and the owner of an ithembo must always have his place among the elders of ithembo, who correspond to the athuri ya ukuru among the A-Kikuyu.
If an elder behaves improperly while occupying the position of elder, or commits a serious breach of tribal custom, his fellows threaten to curse him with their staves and sacred plants, and he stands in such awe of this that he will appear before the elders and beg forgiveness, [[213]]bringing with him a ram or male goat as a sign of his good intent. He will then be ceremonially purified, tahikia.
Initiation into the Ukuru Grade of Elders (Kikuyu).—When a muthuri, or elder, becomes old he generally aspires to a higher grade called the ukuru, but cannot enter it until all his children have been circumcised. Some, however, never become members of the ukuru grade; the consent of the other members of the grade is necessary and they do not approve of a candidate who is not well endowed with worldly goods, or, again, prospective candidates may be considered unlucky.
When an elder wishes to become a muthuri ya ukuru he prepares a supply of beer and invites all the elders of that grade from the surrounding neighbourhood; if they agree to his admission they assemble and ceremonially spit on him. A day is then fixed for the formal initiation, and a larger gathering of elders of various grades assembles.
The candidate has to present formally to the elders of the grade what is called njahe, and at the ceremony at which the writer was present this consisted of:
- 4 gourds of honey-beer.
- 4 gourds of sugar-cane beer.
- 4 gourds of gruel made from kimanga and mawele meal all mixed together.
- 4 bowls of cooked njahe or pigeon pea.
- Numerous bowls of cooked sweet potatoes.
A bullock and ram were also provided for the guest.