The White King of the Wa-Kikuyu: A True Story of Travel and Adventure in Africa by John Boyes [pdf]

Description

Many colonial settlers isolated themselves and lorded it over Africans. But there were some exceptional individuals who chose to adapt to their new environment and make the best of it.

That was how John Boyes managed to endear himself to the Kikuyu, a feat that almost won him Kenya’s most iconic mountain.

In his books, King of the Wa-Kikuyu and Company of Adventurers, Boyes considers himself a blood brother of the Kikuyu through marriage. He lived among them for decades and married three local girls.

The Kikuyu nicknamed him Karianjahi, or ‘‘one who eats cowpeas’.’ He won the goodwill of the fierce and rival Kikuyu chiefs Karuri wa Gakure and Wang’ombe…