Long ago, before the Kikuyu people lived in the central highlands of Kenya, stories tell of a small group of people called the Gumba, Agumba, or Maitho a Ciana (which means “children’s eyes”).
These “little people” were said to be very short—between 2 to 4.5 feet tall—and lived quietly in the forests. For many years, people have debated whether these stories are just myths or based on real history. This summary explores both the oral stories passed down and the archaeological evidence found in Kenya.
What Oral Stories Say
Many Kikuyu elders have told stories about these little people. Some say the Gumba were the first to live in the forests before the Kikuyu arrived. Others say they taught the Kikuyu important skills like making iron tools and pottery. These stories describe the Gumba as clever, quiet, and secretive. They lived in houses built in shallow pits or caves and were experts in things like beekeeping, pottery, and hunting.
Some stories claim the Gumba disappeared suddenly—either because they were scared off by strange birds, lost in a fight, or moved into deep forests. Others believe they slowly joined the Kikuyu through marriage or were pushed out as more land was cleared for farming. Some people even say they were driven into swamps or fled far away to Congo or Ethiopia.
What Researchers Found
Historians and archaeologists (people who study old remains) have found some clues that support the stories. They discovered saucer-shaped hollows in the ground in places like Nyeri and Murang’a. These could be the remains of Gumba homes. Items like old pottery, iron tools, obsidian (a type of rock used for tools), and bones of animals were found in these pits.
Some of the pots were different from Kikuyu pots, and many believe the Gumba made them. One type of pottery looked like Kwale ware, which is from the early Iron Age. That means it’s possible the Gumba lived in the area as far back as the 1500s—before the Kikuyu came.
One researcher, Taylor, mapped out over 19 Gumba living sites. These were usually on hilltops and had entrances facing Mount Kenya. He believed the Gumba slowly moved into the forest as the Kikuyu moved into their lands.
Were the Gumba Real?
Many details in different stories line up: their short height, the way they lived in pits, and their special skills. Several respected writers from the 1900s also wrote about them. These include missionaries, colonial officers, and researchers who lived among the Kikuyu. Even if not every part of the story is true, there is strong evidence that a small, forest-living group existed before the Kikuyu.
Some scientists think the Gumba were an earlier group of Bantu-speaking people who lived in Kenya during the Iron Age. But this is debated because the Gumba were said to speak a different language, even with bird-like sounds.
Similar Stories Elsewhere
Kenya is not the only place with tales of little forest people. In places like Tanzania and Malawi, stories are told of short, skilled people who lived in forests and mountains, made iron tools, and were strong and fierce. These groups were known by different names but had similar traits.
Also, in western Kenya near Mt. Elgon, large hollows called Sirikwa holes have been found. They were made by the Sirikwa people, who, like the Gumba, lived in hollows and worked with iron. It’s unclear if the Sirikwa and Gumba were connected, but the similarities are interesting.
Final Thoughts
Even though the Gumba no longer exists today, their stories have lived on through generations. Archaeological evidence and similar stories from other African regions suggest that they might have been real. The exact truth may never be fully known, but these tales offer a valuable look at Kenya’s past. They show how oral traditions can be more than just myths—they might hold pieces of real history.
Source: Agumba: The little people who vanished, Angela W. Kabiru, Kenya Past and Present issue 47, published by the Kenya Museum Society, 2021.