Me Katilili

Kenyan freedom fighter who led the Giriama resistance against British colonial rule in the early 20th century

Me Katilili wa Menza (c. 1840–1914) was a Giriama prophetess who organized one of East Africa's most formidable anti-colonial uprisings. When British colonizers imposed forced labor and taxes on Kenya's coast, Katilili used sacred Kaya forests as bases for guerrilla warfare, uniting disparate clans through ritual dances and oath-taking ceremonies.

Her 1913–1914 uprising saw Giriama warriors destroy colonial outposts using poisoned arrows and spiritual warfare tactics. Though captured and exiled, Katilili's defiance inspired later movements like Mau Mau. She leveraged indigenous belief systems to mobilize resistance—a strategy overlooked by male-centric colonial records. Modern historians recognize her as Kenya's first female freedom fighter.

Katilili's legacy challenges patriarchal narratives of African resistance. By merging spirituality with military strategy, she created a blueprint for decentralized anti-colonial struggles. Today, the Malindi Museum commemorates her leadership, while feminist scholars re-examine her role in decolonization.