Forty Group
Encyclopedia
The Forty Group was a Kenya
n society or organization of the mid-twentieth century constituted primarily of members of the Kenya African Union
who joined with the aim of using violence to make their voice heard. The name is a translation of the Gĩkũyũ
phrase Anake a 40, which means The Young Men of 40. The organization was also called Kiama kia 40 translating to The [political] party of 40. The number 40 is a reference to the year 1940, in which most of the group's core members were drafted
into the British Armed Forces.
The organization consisted mainly of men fresh from service in World War II
.
It was founded by Mwangi Macharia and gradually evolved into part of the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s.
Stanley Mathenge
was one of the leaders of Forty Group.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n society or organization of the mid-twentieth century constituted primarily of members of the Kenya African Union
Kenya African Union
Kenya African Union was a political organization formed in 1944to articulate Kenyan grievances against the British colonial administration of the time...
who joined with the aim of using violence to make their voice heard. The name is a translation of the Gĩkũyũ
Gikuyu language
Gikuyu or Kikuyu is a language of the Bantu family spoken primarily by the Kikuyu people of Kenya. Numbering about 6 million , they are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. Gikuyu is spoken in the area between Nyeri and Nairobi. Gikuyu is one of the five languages of the Thagichu subgroup of the...
phrase Anake a 40, which means The Young Men of 40. The organization was also called Kiama kia 40 translating to The [political] party of 40. The number 40 is a reference to the year 1940, in which most of the group's core members were drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
into the British Armed Forces.
The organization consisted mainly of men fresh from service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
It was founded by Mwangi Macharia and gradually evolved into part of the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s.
Stanley Mathenge
Stanley Mathenge
Stanley Mathenge wa Mirugi was a Mau Mau leader.Before the Mau mau rebellion, he had fought in Burma. Later he became the leader of the Forty Group, an organisation supporting Kenya African Union . He also founded the Kenya Riigi, a group of illiterate fighters. Mathenge believed in traditional...
was one of the leaders of Forty Group.