Editing Mau Mau rebellion (section)

==Etymology==
{{History of Kenya}}[[File:Kenya sm02.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of Kenya]]

The origin of the term Mau Mau is uncertain. According to some members of Mau Mau, they never referred to themselves as such, instead preferring the military title Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA).<ref name="Kanogo 1992 23to25">{{Harvnb|Kanogo|1992|pp=23–25}}.</ref> Some publications, such as Fred Majdalany's ''State of Emergency: The Full Story of Mau Mau'', claim it was an [[anagram]] of ''Uma Uma'' (which means "Get out! Get out!") and was a military codeword based on a secret language game Kikuyu boys used to play at the time of their circumcision. Majdalany also says the British simply used the name as a label for the Kikuyu ethnic community without assigning any specific definition.<ref name="Majdalany 1963 75">{{Harvnb|Majdalany|1963|p=75}}.</ref> However, there was a [[Maji Maji rebellion]] in [[German East Africa]]/Tanzania in 1905/6, ('Maji' meaning 'water' after a 'water-medicine') so this may be the origin of Mau Mau.

As the movement progressed, a [[Swahili language|Swahili]] [[backronym]] was adopted: "[[Mzungu]] Aende Ulaya, Mwafrika Apate Uhuru", meaning "Let the foreigner go back abroad, let the African regain independence".<ref name="Kariuki 1960 167">{{Harvnb|Kariuki|1975|p=167}}.</ref> J. M. Kariuki, a member of Mau Mau who was detained during the conflict, suggests the British preferred to use the term Mau Mau instead of KLFA to deny the Mau Mau rebellion international legitimacy.<ref name="Kariuki 1960 24">{{Harvnb|Kariuki|1975|p=24}}.</ref> Kariuki also wrote that the term Mau Mau was adopted by the rebellion in order to counter what they regarded as colonial propaganda.<ref name="Kariuki 1960 167"/>

Author and activist [[Wangari Maathai]] indicates that, to her, the most interesting story of the origin of the name is the Kikuyu phrase for the beginning of a list. When beginning a list in Kikuyu, one says, "''maũndũ ni mau''{{-"}}, "the main issues are...", and holds up three fingers to introduce them. Maathai says the three issues for the Mau Mau were land, freedom, and self-governance.<ref>{{cite book |title=Unbowed: a memoir |author=Wangari Maathai |page=63 |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |date=2006 |isbn=0307263487}}</ref>