ABOUT

Wangũ wa Makeri (c. 1856–1915 or 1936[1][2]) was a Kikuyu tribal chief, known as a headman, during the British Colonial period in Kenya. She was the only female Kikuyu headman during the period, who later resigned following a scandal in which she engaged in a Kibata dance.


Contents
1 Early life
2 Headman
2.1 Resignation
3 References
4 Sources
Early life
Wangũ Wa Makeri was born around 1856 in Gitie village to Gatuika Macharia and Wakeru. She had no formal education, instead working on her parents’ farm as a labourer. It was there that she met her husband, Makeri wa Mbogo.[3] Together, they raised their six children in a traditional Kikuyu home in Weithaga, within the modern Central Province of Kenya.[4]

Headman
She entered into a relationship with the paramount chief of Fort Hall (now Murang'a), Karuri wa Gakure,[3][5] after he stopped on occasion in her village and stayed with the family. Her husband knew about this, and in response was offered the position of headman