Irua is the traditional male initiation ceremony of the Kikuyu people of Kenya.
Among the Kikuyu, initiation historically formed part of a wider age-set system that organized social responsibilities and community identity. Irua traditionally marked a boy’s transition into a recognized stage of manhood and included instruction in expected conduct, obligations, and cultural knowledge.
Historical descriptions connect the ceremony with circumcision and with public recognition by the community. The precise form of practice changed over time, especially under colonial rule, Christian influence, state regulation, and modern education. Contemporary Kikuyu communities therefore do not all observe initiation in the same way.
The word is sometimes rendered with different spellings in historical sources, but Irua is the commonly cited name. It should not be confused with Imbalu, the Bagisu initiation tradition of Uganda, even though both are East African male rites.