Last year I had an opportunity to attend a presentation of over an hour, given by a Masai warrior named Sabore Ole Oyie. He was in the Bay Area helping educate people about the Masai, and raising funds to build a school for Masai children, as well as to bring water to their community. Note that Sabore is one of the few members of the Masai tribe who is educated and who speaks fluent English.
In his presentation, Sabore explained how they become warriors, what it means, and what purpose it serves. The Masai are cattle peoples, as I had heard during Sabore’s presentation and as the book described, therefore they become warriors to fight the animals that endanger their cattle. Sabore talked about killing lions (a practice that has been banned), about the rituals before and after the killing (they ask for forgiveness), and how becoming a warrior is a learning process, a journey that culminates with the killing of the lion and the keeping of the lion’s mane. The learning process involves spending time alone in the wild, learning to imitate animal sounds, to find water, and subsisting on roots and wild berries. At the end of the presentation, Sabore performed the “hyena chant” for the audience.
Sabore explained that the Masai used to live in a state of semi-sedentarism, now restricted by the growth of urbanization and the confinement of Masai people to reservations. In the past, they would settle for certain periods of time, while the grass was suitable for the raising of cattle and then moving with the seasons; their huts were (and still are) made of sticks and cattle manure. In the present times, they have no choice but to live in the reservations.
Sabore wore his traditional Masai clothes and weapons. His garment consisted of a big animal skin and plaid clothes in red and blue, black, or white. Red seems to be the color that characterizes the Masai. He brought with him his sticks and sword, which he carries everywhere he goes.
During the presentation, Sabore also talked about the Masai “diet of milk, meat and blood derived from their cattle,” (Strayer, 2009) going into a detailed explanation of how the “village” got together for the butchering of animals for food. He explained that the butchered animal has to be consumed right away, and it’s consumed in its entirety (insides too). He also explained that the Masai go several days with just drinking milk: it is hard work to raise the cattle, so they do not eat meat every day.
Now, the presentation that I attended was geared to elementary school children, so the military aspects of the Masai people, their organization and conflicts that Strayer brings up in the book were tactfully spared. Still, it was a very charming presentation, and it was very interesting how Sabore patiently answered all the kids’ questions and connected with them. His calm nature and his huge smile had the kids’ attention the whole entire time. Towering at above 6 ft tall and in full traditional garments, he was at first intimidating, until he actually started sharing his culture and customs with a deep, sweet voice. My experience contrasts sharply with the "raiding and warfare" depicted in Strayer, but, again, I got the "Approved for all audiences" version of the Masai culture.
For a brief intro to Sabore, here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjArHyP238A
As a last bit of interesting info, when prompted by a kids' question Sabore said that he does not know how old he is, but he is considered an elder because of his knowledge, the fact that he studied, and the leadership he assumed for the advancement of his community.
No comments:
Post a Comment