By KNA’s Kamanja Maeria
Never dare touch a Mugumo (Ficus Natalensis) tree or pluck its leaf lest a curse will follow you. In the Meru Culture, people used mugumo tree as a shrine where they would offer sacrifices and worship their God known as Murungu.
They believed that the spirit of God dwells there and the tree belongs to God.
In Kantheleu village, Igembe Central sub-county there is a Mugumo that has survived for more than 200 years as residents treat it as sacred and cannot interfere with it.
The tree has a height of more than 90 feet with a stream of water flowing near it. Its ropelike roots spread towards the streams to seek water.
The tree is surrounded by a thick bush which no one has dared to clear while its branches have provided a shelter where clansmen stand while performing their cultural rituals.
According to Birithu Mwereria a 71-year-old man neighboring the sacred tree, the branches have never been pruned or used as firewood since residents believe that anyone who tries to cut a branch or pluck its leaf would eventually die as a result.
Mwereria added that traditionally it was believed that if the branches are used as firewood, the house would turn into flames hence they were left to decay. The tree, he added, is believed to grow naturally courtesy of God’s power.
When asked about the quality of its timber, Mwereria added that the tree has never been split to produce timber as Ameru believed that using Mugumo timber would cause a great curse to them and their offspring.
Mwereria disclosed that its fall forecast something bad would happen in the community like drought or defeat by enemies and the elders would organize a ceremony, offer sacrifice, and perform rituals to heal the land.
The Njuri Ncheke elders also placed a great honor on this particular Mugumo tree. They have ensured that the tree is used for major purposes; offering sacrifices to Murungu. A child born in this community grows up knowing the repercussions of interfering with this ‘tree of Murungu.’
Mwereria revealed that over the years, the great grandfathers used the tree as a shrine where they offered sacrifices of animals, foodstuffs, and prayers under it to appease God.
They believed that through that tree one can receive generational curses or blessings. Up to date, their descendants bestow great honor on it.
In addition, they also believed in the immense connection between migumo (in plural) and rain. They believed that when the tree shed leaves, the rains would fall heavily contrary to when it doesn’t.
During dry spell, Njuri Ncheke’s council of elders would offer a sacrifice to appease Murungu under the same Mugumo tree.
Mwereria noted that during circumcision, the young Meru boys especially from the Igembe region took cold baths from the water flowing near this tree which was believed to possess healing power and God’s blessings.
He urged residents to preserve indigenous trees, especially in the water catchment areas to combat the adverse effects of climate change.