Page 19 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 34

C omm unit y
Community

he Gikuyu Woman’s house, Nyumba’s house plan was

developed by the simple formula of inserting a square inside
Ta circle. All the spaces resulting from this sacred union
produced all that was required to accomodate her physical and
pychic spatial requirements. The square inside a circle producing
one major space, used as the main social space with a hearth at the

centre, four major spaces or sides of the square and four corner
niche spaces for a total of nine spaces. With the addition of the
unseen universal space, the “Nine Full Clans”, Kenda Muiyuru, of

the Gikuyu tribe were completed.

ISSUE 34 | FEBRUARY 2025 19