Musings from Maasai Land

I have just returned from a three week stationing in Maasai Land; the following entry (the poetic piece) is mostly taking from my journal jottings on July 25th, 11.

I feel as if I have stepped into another world,
Rather, a historical version of this one; or dare I say a purer orthodoxy existence.
This is Maasai Land.

Cattle graze the fields freely,
Lanterns still remember the warmth of their flame and light rooms.
Wood fires heat pots for meals.
Children play un-fenced and outside.
Visitors are a blessing and welcomed guests.

Wild animals roam - wait should I call them wild?
Animals here aren't so labeled, they just are,
for man-made bars have yet to define them as such.
Monkeys and Baboons rest in tall Acacia trees that grace the river.
Zebras and Impalas stampede past shepherds that keep their flock with a song.

But alas a hinge point in history is upon us.
Things are about to change. forever. an orthodoxy challenged once more
On this the eve of a new horizon.

The lion's roar that threatens cattle can be speared to silence,
But this new challenger broke the back of the ages -- modernity.
Government flexes its weight and makes forceful advances,
"Claim your land, divide and conquer OR, loose it forever.
Cause Babel is being built, throw in your brick or scatter."

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OK maybe a little over the top with the choice wording of "Bable".
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It's absolutely interesting. The Maasai people are one of the few warrior tribes still remaining here in Kenya, still maintaining ancient traditions. Men carry swords and have endured lengthy warrior training to pass into manhood, women are adorned with colorful garb and are decorated with beads from head to toe that also give style to their elongated ears. The land is open (no property rights here) and shepherds lead their animals anywhere and everywhere to find greener pastures. It is the most otherly place I have ever visited, however their lifestyle is about to change, demarcation is in process (sectioning off of land for personal ownership).

The Maasai have always been pastorlists, (my diet while living amongst them mostly amounted to goat meat!) but with the population of Kenya growing the government is now demanding (and I suppose rightly so, the consequence of modernity) that the Maasai people lay claim to "their" land and section it off into homesteads. This will drastically change their lifestyle. It inevitably means they'll need become farmers and small-scale livestock owners (some currently own thousands of cattle). I wonder what will come of these people? Will their culture die like so many other African tribes or will they endure the test of time? This world is continually changing, I only hope we can maintain our unique and hopefully righteously harmonious differences and not morn the loss of them.  I think I will end this blog with words from a song Kate and I wrote called Dancing Daffodils.

Don't let them steal your colors,
Don't let steal dance.
Just keep dancing, dancing Daffodils...