Recently Joshua, a Maasai friend from Kenya, who lives in the Maasai Mara National Park, asked me to write a short speech, which he would deliver in front of some Kenyan government representatives during the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi, the country’s capital city. An event that aims to bring together, share and increase knowledge of the great traditional and cultural diversity of this well-know African country, for example through ethnic dances, including Maasai ones.
Through this speech he will ask the Kenyan government to support Maasai population that, for those who don’t know, are mainly nomadic people. Maasai lives in the characteristic manyatta and move through the Savannah for miles every day in order to graze their livestock, which is often their only source of survival and livelihood.
Following the words I’ve written for and in support of Maasai people.
“In Italy we have a festival called “Spirit of the Planet”. It’s an event born with the goal to promote and protect the indigenous people of the world.
This year I’ve had the privilege to meet Maasai men and women from Kenya. They traveled from the marvelous plateaus of African’s Rift Valley to the sweet mountains of Bergamo, my hometown.
For many hours I talked with them, in particular with Joshua Tajeuo Nabaala, member of the Maa Traditional Dance Troupe, which is been invited again this December in Italy to share stories and values of Maasai people.
From the very first time I talked with him, he’s been a great inspiration to me to learn more about Kenya, its population and traditions, as well as the strong and admirable spirit of joy and pride still close and dearly too all Maasai people. He also told me about the importance of conservation the land, and he shared with me values of Maa culture.
Meeting Joshua is been one of the greatest honor of my life. It gave me the opportunity to travel with mind, soul and heart to the vast lands of Kenya, from his home in Maasai Mara to the countless natural landscapes your beautiful country has to offer.
Maasai people represents what we, in the Western world, have lost, in a too fast way, in the past decades. Before anything else, the importance of family and feeling like you belong to a common people, who share your values, customs and moral ethics.
With me, Joshua smiled all the time, and remembered me that we all inhabit this small, precious planet. He remembered me that we can live together in peace and with the greatest gift of sharing, between us, different stories, and learn from them.
We looking forward to welcome back Joshua in Italy, and I consider Maasai people my second, large family, and Kenya a country which I would be honored to visit as soon as possible.
Asante Sana.
Tiziano Brignoli“