The sixth edition of the Maasai Olympics which intertwines culture and talent to curb human wildlife conflicts has been held at Kimana Sanctuary, Kajiado South constituency.
The Olympics, which were started by Big Life Foundation and community leaders has helped in preserving the region’s lions as they had decreased from about 30,000 in the 1970s to just over 2000. There are now over 250 of them in the Amboseli ecosystem.
The biennial event brought together Maasai morans from across the Amboseli ecosystem to celebrate their heritage while protecting wildlife.
The morans, known for their prowess in lion hunting as a rite of passage were given a chance to showcase their strength and skill through athletic events like races, javelin and endurance challenges
According to Nickson Kupei, an Iltuati Maasai warrior, the Olympics have replaced ‘olamayio’ rite of passage where morans killed lions to prove their bravery, skills, identify their leaders and also attract girlfriends.
“We inculcated sports as a way to prevent the young morans from hunting lions as a rite of passage. Due to human wildlife conflict, wildlife numbers here were decreasing at an alarming rate before Big Life Foundation and other partners came to sensitize us on their importance. They have also given our youths jobs and bursaries,” said Chief Kupei.
He adds that the four manyattas within the Amboseli ecosystem namely Imbirikani, Rombo, Kuku and Eselenkei were challenged to protect the wildlife and ensure that no lion has been killed in their manyattas for two years straight.
Imbirikani manyatta emerged the winner of the challenge and won the grand prize of a breeding bull, a trophy and bursaries amounting to Sh 240,000.
In every two years, the participating manyattas select teams through a series of tournaments which lead up to the finals across six categories namely rungu and javelin throwing, high jump in a Maasai warrior position, and 200m, 800m and 5,000m races.
The other winners in other sporting activities were rewarded cash prizes and medals.
Samuel Kaanki, an officer at Big Life Foundation reiterated that wildlife conservation is important as it comes with many benefits which can change their lives.
“We should stop seeing wildlife as our enemy. When we protect the wildlife, we create employment opportunities for our youths who can be recruited as community rangers. Many children who could not go to school due to lack of school fees have benefitted from bursaries awarded by conservation organizations,” said Kaanki.
Young women who were often the motivation behind the warriors wanting to kill lions were also included in the 100m and 1500m as they also help in conservation.
Kiranto Meiseyieki, a defending champion in Javelin throwing said that he has immensely benefited from the Olympics as he got a job in Big Life Foundation and he has also managed to buy cows for his family from the cash prizes he has won over time.
Kajiado Senator Samuel Seki who attended the event said that such events are crucial as they offer the youths constructive engagement while nurturing talent especially during the holidays.
According to the Big Life Foundation, the Olympics have helped in conserving wildlife as more than 250 lions are now roaming in the Amboseli ecosystem, an increase from less than 20 in the early 2000s.
By Diana Meneto
