Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi

Thiong'o, Ngugi wa. Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi. 2020. 240p. ISBN 9781620975251. 

The Gĩkũyũ people of Kenya come from nine beautiful daughters, and one crippled one. These first girls, dubbed the Perfect Nine, were strong, courageous, and energetic. The youngest could not walk, but was an expert archer. She was often left behind as her sisters adventured.

Looking for suitable suitors for their daughters, Gĩkũyũ and his wife Mũmbi consulted with God, and were rewarded with a large pool of men eager to marry the daughters. Through heroic quests, trials, and challenges, the men are slowly winnowed down until ten remain, and were married to the ten daughters. While the nine eldest traveled the world on their adventures, the youngest learned to walk and became strong in her own name. 

These two stories, those of the suitors and the nine eldest daughters, intertwine with that of the youngest daughter to create a riveting lyrical tale. A foundational myth used to explain their origins, the Perfect Nine embraces strong women and retells, through tales of adventure, how the Kenyan tribes came to be. Fans of epics will appreciate this story, filled with legends, heroes, and villains.