Wadawida: Writings on the customs of The Taita

This book is a unique resource for those interested Taita culture, in South Eastern Kenya. It includes historically significant photos and engravings of The Taita people, Wadawida, in traditional attire.

Among the collection of writings are descriptions of their customs, and home lands. It starts with a series of reports (1890 - 1915) on Taita, and Taveta (a neighbouring area), covering some of the major events which had significant impact on people and their way of life. These are presented in chronological order and are illustrated, with engravings, or photographs.

There then follows two essays on Taita history and customs, the first in English by Rev. Peter G. Bostock (1944) and second in Kidawida, ( the language of the people to Taita, Kenya) by A. Frank Mcharo (1995).

History of the contents of this book:
In 1935, at Kaloleni, Mcharo, a Mtaita student teacher, first met Bostock, he was a fresh-of-the-boat English C.M.S. missionary from England who worked at Wusi, Taita between 1937-1944. There Bostock recognised that the pace of change was affecting traditional knowledge and decided to write The Taita. He relied on his personal library for historical accounts, and on Peter Mwang'ombe to help research Wataita customs. Mwang'ombe, later Bishop of Mombasa, worked at the time as an Assistant Supervisor of Schools, which allowed him to consult widely with people across the hills.

Bostock's book was completed in 1944 and printed in 1950.

In the 1990s, Mcharo, embarked on his book, with the support of Bostock in Oxford and friends and elders in Taita. All involved agreed that Taita's cultural knowledge should be recorded in her own language, Kidawida. Mcharo's book Chuo Cha Mizango Na Maza Ra Kidawida Ra Kufuma Kokala, was printed in 1995. It includes a collection of Taita Proverbs, Mifwano angu Makatanisho Giko na Mafundisho.

Both the Bostock and Mcharo books are now historic documents in their own right, and as such are 'Dawida pearls of wisdom', to Kidawida (Taita language) speakers the Kidawida, book is 'gold' considering Kidawaida's vulnerability as a minority language, it is possibly one of the first books published in the language, after the bible.

The book is A5, 150 Pages, with 49 Historic photos and engravings 1890 - 1939 as well as Illustrations of Wataita in traditional dress by Helen Averley, Bostock's Granddaughter.