Re-learning Community through Traditional Maasai Skills
“Raw.” The simple, but evocative word Susan Fanning chooses to describe Africa. After spending a good chunk of her life in on the continent (eleven years), native Irishwoman Susan decided to return once again and continue her love affair with the country and its people. This time, she spent it within the Maasai community through a Maasai Warrior Training program put together by Laura Alessandrini and Silas Kitonga. Silas, also happens to be a Maasai from Il ‘Ngwesi, the area where Maasai Warrior Training takes place. The eponymous Il ‘Ngwesi Lodge also happens to be the focus of a documentary, Milk the Rhino which focuses on another area of community conservation by Maasai tribes people.
“The Maasai show you a different way to live, they clearly define what is most important for them in life.” Laura and Silas began to envision what Maasai Warrior Training could be and what it would mean to the Maasai community and Silas put together a team of warriors from the area. “The warriors present during the training are excellent spokesman for their community, values, traditions, and perspectives on the developing world. When you visit a normal lodge, the people are still restricted in how they interact, but the Maasai Warriors are extremely open and articulate.”
Emphasizing Equity
Although the training experience seems to emphasize certain skills you will be taught, Susan explained the other side of the experience. “It gives you a chance to reflect on society and your own values, we can be extremely selfish in our approach to community, and we put our priorities ahead of others. When you look at the Maasai culture you learn how they truly practice equity. Everyone is provided for. We barbequed a goat on the last night of my stay and it was amazing to understand how the Maasai subsidize the goat between the community. For example the right hind leg might belong to the owners of the goat, the left hind leg for neighbors; there are specific parts for men, women, and girls, circumcised and uncircumcised boys.”
The lessons continue to flow in as the Maasai teach you their traditional skills. When they protect themselves, the Maasai like to throw things: for example, they use a rungu, a short wooden stick to begin and then throw stones when they run out of sticks. They also cover wrestling, archery, traditional medicine, identifying the parts that have healing properties. “The most interesting thing to learn was how the Maasai tracked animals.”
Guests are treated to a lush experience as they rest in a beautiful tented camp and feast on delicious food. Susan described the culmination of her stay with the Maasai: “On my last evening, the evening of the BBQ, I really had the chance to reflect. The Maasai are extremely musical, but the music and noise comes from within them, there was lots of jumping and body movement – it was all very hypnotic and relaxing. It put me in place where I could get inside my head and pull it altogether.”
For more information about Maasai Warrior Training, see Bush Adventure's profile. Ask about their Christmas and New Year specials or take a look at their Endurance Training for Marathon Runners.
“Raw.” The simple, but evocative word Susan Fanning chooses to describe Africa. After spending a good chunk of her life in on the continent (eleven years), native Irishwoman Susan decided to return once again and continue her love affair with the country and its people. This time, she spent it within the Maasai community through a Maasai Warrior Training program put together by Laura Alessandrini and Silas Kitonga. Silas, also happens to be a Maasai from Il ‘Ngwesi, the area where Maasai Warrior Training takes place. The eponymous Il ‘Ngwesi Lodge also happens to be the focus of a documentary, Milk the Rhino which focuses on another area of community conservation by Maasai tribes people.
“The Maasai show you a different way to live, they clearly define what is most important for them in life.” Laura and Silas began to envision what Maasai Warrior Training could be and what it would mean to the Maasai community and Silas put together a team of warriors from the area. “The warriors present during the training are excellent spokesman for their community, values, traditions, and perspectives on the developing world. When you visit a normal lodge, the people are still restricted in how they interact, but the Maasai Warriors are extremely open and articulate.”
Emphasizing Equity
Although the training experience seems to emphasize certain skills you will be taught, Susan explained the other side of the experience. “It gives you a chance to reflect on society and your own values, we can be extremely selfish in our approach to community, and we put our priorities ahead of others. When you look at the Maasai culture you learn how they truly practice equity. Everyone is provided for. We barbequed a goat on the last night of my stay and it was amazing to understand how the Maasai subsidize the goat between the community. For example the right hind leg might belong to the owners of the goat, the left hind leg for neighbors; there are specific parts for men, women, and girls, circumcised and uncircumcised boys. “
The lessons continue to flow in as the Maasai teach you their traditional skills. When they protect themselves, the Maasai like to throw things: for example, they use a rungu, a short wooden stick to begin and then throw stones when they run out of sticks. They also cover wrestling, archery, traditional medicine, identifying the parts that have healing properties. “The most interesting thing to learn was how the Maasai tracked animals.”
Guests are treated to a lush experience as they rest in a beautiful tented camp and feast on delicious food. Susan described the culmination of her stay with the Maasai: “On my last evening, the evening of the BBQ, I really had the chance to reflect. The Maasai are extremely musical, but the music and noise comes from within them, there was lots of jumping and body movement – it was all very hypnotic and relaxing. It put me in place where I could get inside my head and pull it altogether. “
For more information about Maasai Warrior Training, visit http://www.bush-adventures.com/. Check out some of the trips they have scheduled for December and ask about their Christmas and New Year specials or take a look at some of the new offerings for 2011 such as Endurance Training for Marathon Runners.