Traditional Gikuyu Religion

The subject of the study is "Traditional Gikuyu Religion". The main purpose of the study is to consider the primitive beliefs of the Gikuyu people in their traditional structure within their basic arguments. At this point, the traditional beliefs of the Gikuyu have been tried to be interpreted and explained in the process so far, not in the modern period, but in the primitive form where the traditional structure has not deteriorated yet. Considering the integrity of beliefs and practices of Gikuyus, it is seen in Traditional Gikuyu Religion that there is a realm of the spiritual and non-spiritual intertwined. The myths of Gikuyus are among the most important data supporting that thought. When looking at the transfer of the figures and events that mythologies host to life, it was seen that the Religion of Gikuyu was built on three basic structures. The first one is mythology; the second is the Supreme God Ngai; the third is human. Considering the relationship of these three elements with each other, the theoretical dimension of the belief system of Gikuyu is considered as a whole. As a result of the fact that mythology is still an important living organism and alive in Gikuyus, the position of Almighty God Ngai in creation continues. Thus, it was Ngai who guided and led human life in Gikuyus, who have the only God belief. In Gikuyus, where tradition and religion are whole, the birth-life-death cycle of man has also developed in a religious understanding. While life after death continues spiritually in the underworld, those who deserve to be an ancestral soul can continue to interact and interact with the earth. Practices that are the practical aspect of belief in Gikuyu Religious are the subject of the second part. It is seen that the worship they put forward as a requirement of their belief systems developed in accordance with the three basic building blocks of the belief system, namely the belief structure formed by mythology, Ngai and man. In addition, according to the purpose of the practices in the Gikuyu living area and the rituals they host, they were examined under two subtitles as basic practices for worship and social practices with religious content. As this distinction was made because the Gikuyu people lived together with their religion and tradition, it ensured that Gikuyu Religion was handled in all aspects.