by Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna
“Now they were beginning to panic. They didn’t realize I was just fooling around with them.
“‘Where are you from?’ one of them asked.
“‘Where I’m from is not really the issue,’ I said. ‘The issue is that one of the first things you are told when you come here is not to take pictures of the natives without their permission, so don’t give me that stuff about where I’m from.’
“That did it. They began pleading with me, pleading. These guys were so scared. The Americans must have asked me 50 times, ‘Where are you from? Where did you learn English?’
“The joke had gone far enough. It was so hard for me to keep from laughing. Finally, a kind-looking woman about my mother’s age asked me where I went to school. That did it for me. I said, ‘I go to school in America. Upstate New York.’ As soon as I said that, one of the tourists shouted, ‘Buffalo! Buffalo! I’m from Buffalo!’
“Now I started smiling. ‘You know, folks, you ought to obey the rules of our country. You’re taking pictures of my family without asking. If you want pictures, you can take them, but next time, please ask.’
“By now the van driver was so scared he was underneath the van’s seat. So I called my cousin and brother back to pose for pictures with the nice people. “My aim was to make an impression. When those tourists got back home and looked at their pictures, maybe they would remember that someone might look ignorant and primitive, but that is no reason to try to take advantage of him.”
WHILE AT ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY and at The Langley School, Joseph has returned to Kenya during each school vacation. Every summer he takes a group of students to Kenya to introduce them to his people. The trips serve a dual purpose: to educate Americans about Africa and to encourage them to return the favor by providing some educational resources and other material support to the Ariaal. Thanks to Joseph and the Langley parents, his mother’s village and the villages nearby now have clean running water, a modern school and dormitory, computers, and other benefits. As Joseph says, “It has been good.”
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following:
Herman and Susan Viola, whose guidance and direction were instrumental in telling my story. Without them, I would not have even tried to write this book. Susan, thanks for introducing me to Herman.
Simon Boughton, for helping get this book off the ground.
National Geographic, where I am especially grateful to Nancy Laties Feresten, who saw promise in my book and agreed to be my editor and publisher.
The former President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, and Kabarak high school for giving me a chance to stay in school after a severe drought left my family without enough cattle to pay my school fees.
My family and friends, Nkasiko, Sophia, Lonunu, Ntachamwa, Naripukule, Paraikon, Ngoliong, Lmatarion, Mpirison, Lekeyon, Letom, Ntelelek, Ldirait, Lengima, Ntarkyan, Sapian, Mpenoi, Reitanoi, Ngoronkwe, Loroklala, Mpaari, Matin, Kennedi, Ltasayon, Ntayai, Ltalemon, Ltalipen, Lterewa, Mugunten, Rita, Jeiso, Kargiya, Iltangalan, Lumba, Nkikor, Moluaya, Lmariaton, Mardadi, Nkariasan, Lekorole, Simba, Lteshon, Lowankiya, Lmeingach, Ltaramatwa, Ngoley, Lekerle, Ndirangu, Chapa, and many more in all the villages, and cattle camps of Northern Kenya. The elders (men and women) of the Karare, Logologo, Kamboe, Laisamis, Ngurnit, Ndikir, Merelle, Ilaut, Korr, Kargi, Mt. Kulal, Loyangalani, Namarei, Songa, Kituruni, HulaHula, and South Horr villages who helped me to grow up and to love my culture.
My good friend in Kenya, Colonel Philip Laibon Lepakiyo, and his family.
Kathleen Colson and her family, Doug, Will, Ellie, Daniel, for their love and friendship, and the Longtrail School in Dorset, Vermont.
My Harvard friends, Holly Zimmerman, Mei Mei Peng, Eric Waldo, Patricia Cerqueira, Rachel Garver, David Willard, Brian Finn, Jason Carpenter, and LeAnna Marr, who gave me additional support.
My Harvard professors, Kai Ming Cheng, Sue Grant Lewis, Claudia Bach, Mitra Shavirini, and Joe Kalt for giving me the power of knowledge.
Paul Robinson, Howard Brown, Dennis Doyle, Bruce and Anne Benedict, and Patti McGill Peterson for giving me the chance to come to St. Lawrence University, and David Vrooman and Ahmed Samatar for their skillful pedagogy.
Special thanks to Doris Cottam and the entire Langley School students, faculty, parents, and staff who gave me the support I need.
The following Langley families for opening up their homes, and their friendships: the Kanters, Laysons, Gorells, Finns, Shermans, Smiths, Carrs, Barths, Mitches, Hudeceks, Cowans, Millers, Frenches, Lefraks, Hutchins, Warens, Cases, Pecaros, Browns, Gemmels, Crumpekers, Grooms, Hunts, Riedys, Elliots, Martins, Hrens, Silvanos, Chuzis, Rohrbachs, Leedoms, Holmers, Minors, Queenans, Taylors, Weisses, Gubermans, Gleasons, Klunders, Raneses, Pascals, Venners, Feldmans, Hinderdaels, Magruders, Freedmans, Feehans, Solomons, Stones, Wilkins, DiGiammarinos, Wallaces, Hayeses, Breyers, Doyles, Earp, Fifers, Foust, Johnsons, Hellers, Magnussons, Narangs, O’Connells, Rosens, Serotas, Sunshines, and many more. You have all been there for me when I needed you. Thank you. Jill Rademacher for teaching me the meaning of getting organized, and for always being there when I needed her friendship.
The Wolfes and the Beers for their continued support of my dream.
Nomadic Kenya Children Education Fund for their education support.
Loldapash and Mark Poole of the Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition for giving the Maasai people a voice.
Ricki Kanter and her family for their friendship and for planning my trip to Boston, and more.
Andrew Dabalen and family for his wise advice—always.
Randy Odeneal and Sue Falk for their special friendship and for the confidence they have in me.
Ashley Lefrak and her family for taking pictures for my book, and—with the Hutchins and other Langley families—for giving Mantaine Minis a new heart. She is now playing with other little Maasai girls in the African savanna.
The Welters—Tony, Bea, Bryant, and Andrew—for always making me feel a part of their family, for realizing what dreams I have, and for striving to help me achieve them, including giving the gift of life (water) to thousands of nomads in Northern Kenya, and for their constant encouragement, which makes me a better person. Thank you very much.
It is impossible to thank all the individuals that are part of my life or who in one way or another assisted in the preparation of this book, and I apologize for those I forgot. Your absence in print does not represent an absence of your influence.
A Note from the Author
IN NOMADIC KENYA, where I grew up, most children are forced to chose between family duties and an education. They walk miles to find drinking water and have limited access to proper medical care. It is my sincere hope and ambition that all nomadic children have the opportunity to further their educations and grow up to strengthen my people, my country, and the world. If you would like to help further my dream, here are some organizations to contact.
The Nomadic Kenyan Children’s Educational Fund (NKCEF) was founded to help provide nomadic Kenyan children a solid educational foundation. NKCEF has established the Joseph Lekuton Scholarship Program to award scholarships to nomadic students. To learn more about NKCEF visit http://www.nkcef.org.
The Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition (MERC) supports community-based development projects in Maasai communities throughout Kenya and Tanzania. MERC programs help to preserve the Maasai culture, increase access to educational and economic opportunities, and protect the traditional land rights of the Maasai people. To learn more about MERC visit http://www.maasaierc.org/specialprojects.html.
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