We met a remarkable young man of 22 years soon after arrival at the Ol Tukai Lodge. Ken worked for the Lodge, and always wore his native dress--that of the Maasai Warrior. He was one of three Masai working there full-time. His older friend Loitu carried our luggage to our cabins. Loitu's job was to chase away the pesky Vervet monkeys who occasionally stole food from the visitors who ate outside at the restaurant. Ken, whose full name was Kenneth Sokoine Ntalamia, was hired to give lectures about his people and their customs to tourists.
With time on his hands, and an eye for the pretty young ladies accompanying me, Ken first approached my three teammates--Anna, Ellie, and Laney, as they sunbathed by the pool. He struck up a conversation with them, and they soon found him giving them a free private lecture of sorts about the customs of his tribe. I later came over and joined them out of curiosity. His story was fascinating, and I became intrigued, especially by his affinity for people. Over the course of the weekend, we were to learn much from Ken personally, and then more when we spent a couple hours that Saturday visiting a Masai village just outside Amboseli Park.
This is Ken's story as he told it: His family belonged to another clan, farther away. They were nomads at the time. His father had several wives, as polygamy is accepted practice among the Masai. When he was a young boy of five years old, a representative from World Vision came to his village and took photos of the children in order to attract sponsors for them from the western world. Ken was "one of the lucky ones" whose photo was chosen by a sponsor from Australia. For the next 10 years or so, this sponsor would send him photos of animals in Australia, like kangaroos, and also send a check to subsidize the cost of sending Ken to a boarding school for an education. Because he was lucky enough to attend school, he did not undergo the customary ritual of having his two bottom incisors pulled out.
At some point during his schooling, missionaries came to the school and told the students about Jesus. Ken chose to follow Jesus then, and at that time was given his Christian name Kenneth. At some point around the time he was supposed to enroll in high school, the sponsor quit writing and sending checks. Apparently, World Vision lost touch with him too. Ken's dad wanted so much for Ken to graduate, that he chose to sell some cows and move near the school. Fortunately, Ken was able to graduate, and now wishes to go to school in the U.S. He said that a young male college student (tourist) from Washington State had described a program at his college in Environmental Studies, and had gotten Ken's hope up for a possible scholarship someday.
I learned so much from Ken's lecture about the Masai. He was surprisingly gifted at teaching, and very professional. I asked him how he got the job there at Ol Tukai, and why he wasn't with his family. He said they were passing through one day and he saw the lodge and just came in and inquired. The result of his interview was the lecture position. He also helped out with reception at the restaurant and hosting activities each evening for tourists. On Friday night, he and Loitu and a bunch from the nearby tribe come to dance a warrior dance as the entertainment. I took video and you will see the pictures. He is saving money so that his two sisters can attend school like he did. How admirable!
So Ken's dream is to finish college and educate his own people regarding conservation and preservation of the environment. He told of their custom of killing the "Big 5" which are the cheetah, lion, rhino, elephant, and buffalo, soley to prove their bravery. They don't even use any of the animal for food or clothing! He wants to change that. Another thing that concerned us, and apparently the Kenyan government as well, is the practive of female circumcision at age 14, and male circumcision without any local anesthesia, at age 15. We also had problems with the polygamy and diet, which according to Ken is mainly milk, meat, and fresh blood from only cows, sheep, and goats.
When we visited the nearby tribe, we were surprised at the primitive living conditions and the runny noses in all the children that we saw. We had a bona fide tour of the village by Zachariah, another warrior who was on tourist duty that day. He showed us the interior of a hut, and a demonstration of fire-making, and hosted our visit to the market in his village. There he proceeded to negotiate some pretty high prices for their wares, and asked for money for the little school they had built with tourist donations.
I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience and personal encounter with this well-know tribe. I'm still troubled that they seem to want an education but so few are able to obtain one. I'm encouraged that the child I sponsor through Compassion International must really be benefitting after all. Still, I'm puzzled and somewhat troubled by this juxtaposition of cultures--western vs. nomadic tribal Masai. I can't make sense of it yet. Fascinating people, and so colorful...what will become of them? Will they give up their beautiful clothing and beads, along with some of the rather primitive and brutal customs? God only knows!
With time on his hands, and an eye for the pretty young ladies accompanying me, Ken first approached my three teammates--Anna, Ellie, and Laney, as they sunbathed by the pool. He struck up a conversation with them, and they soon found him giving them a free private lecture of sorts about the customs of his tribe. I later came over and joined them out of curiosity. His story was fascinating, and I became intrigued, especially by his affinity for people. Over the course of the weekend, we were to learn much from Ken personally, and then more when we spent a couple hours that Saturday visiting a Masai village just outside Amboseli Park.
This is Ken's story as he told it: His family belonged to another clan, farther away. They were nomads at the time. His father had several wives, as polygamy is accepted practice among the Masai. When he was a young boy of five years old, a representative from World Vision came to his village and took photos of the children in order to attract sponsors for them from the western world. Ken was "one of the lucky ones" whose photo was chosen by a sponsor from Australia. For the next 10 years or so, this sponsor would send him photos of animals in Australia, like kangaroos, and also send a check to subsidize the cost of sending Ken to a boarding school for an education. Because he was lucky enough to attend school, he did not undergo the customary ritual of having his two bottom incisors pulled out.
At some point during his schooling, missionaries came to the school and told the students about Jesus. Ken chose to follow Jesus then, and at that time was given his Christian name Kenneth. At some point around the time he was supposed to enroll in high school, the sponsor quit writing and sending checks. Apparently, World Vision lost touch with him too. Ken's dad wanted so much for Ken to graduate, that he chose to sell some cows and move near the school. Fortunately, Ken was able to graduate, and now wishes to go to school in the U.S. He said that a young male college student (tourist) from Washington State had described a program at his college in Environmental Studies, and had gotten Ken's hope up for a possible scholarship someday.
I learned so much from Ken's lecture about the Masai. He was surprisingly gifted at teaching, and very professional. I asked him how he got the job there at Ol Tukai, and why he wasn't with his family. He said they were passing through one day and he saw the lodge and just came in and inquired. The result of his interview was the lecture position. He also helped out with reception at the restaurant and hosting activities each evening for tourists. On Friday night, he and Loitu and a bunch from the nearby tribe come to dance a warrior dance as the entertainment. I took video and you will see the pictures. He is saving money so that his two sisters can attend school like he did. How admirable!
So Ken's dream is to finish college and educate his own people regarding conservation and preservation of the environment. He told of their custom of killing the "Big 5" which are the cheetah, lion, rhino, elephant, and buffalo, soley to prove their bravery. They don't even use any of the animal for food or clothing! He wants to change that. Another thing that concerned us, and apparently the Kenyan government as well, is the practive of female circumcision at age 14, and male circumcision without any local anesthesia, at age 15. We also had problems with the polygamy and diet, which according to Ken is mainly milk, meat, and fresh blood from only cows, sheep, and goats.
When we visited the nearby tribe, we were surprised at the primitive living conditions and the runny noses in all the children that we saw. We had a bona fide tour of the village by Zachariah, another warrior who was on tourist duty that day. He showed us the interior of a hut, and a demonstration of fire-making, and hosted our visit to the market in his village. There he proceeded to negotiate some pretty high prices for their wares, and asked for money for the little school they had built with tourist donations.
I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience and personal encounter with this well-know tribe. I'm still troubled that they seem to want an education but so few are able to obtain one. I'm encouraged that the child I sponsor through Compassion International must really be benefitting after all. Still, I'm puzzled and somewhat troubled by this juxtaposition of cultures--western vs. nomadic tribal Masai. I can't make sense of it yet. Fascinating people, and so colorful...what will become of them? Will they give up their beautiful clothing and beads, along with some of the rather primitive and brutal customs? God only knows!
1 comment:
how fascinating!!
i can't wait till i get over there! only 87 more days!
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