Blood & Leather: Re-creating the Maasai war shield in 2012

This video documents the first making of authentic Maasai war shields in 50 years (there is also a Maa language voiceover version here, https://vimeo.com/70596349). The project sprang from within the Okiramatian community of southern Kenya, and is a global collaboration. The Maasai people of the region, through SORALO (South Rift Association of Land Owners), are building a natural and cultural heritage conservation program with funding and assistance from individuals, businesses, and non-governmental organizations in Kenya, North America, and Europe. The shield workshop featured in this video is one of several cultural preservation projects in this Maasai renaissance. By recording the knowledge of the elders, the goal is to inspire the next generations to retain and rekindle pride through cultural knowledge.

Funding for the workshop, as well as photography and videography, were provided by ConserVentures. We are also producing a book and posters to return to the community for their November 2013 Maasai Cultural Heritage Festival.

Shield-Making Workshop — The people who made it happen

Olkiramatian Community of South Rift, Kenya

Lale'enok Resource Centre

With artisans:

Tonkei ole Rimpaine

Karinte ole Manka

Ntetiyian ole Pasoi

Sipala ole Mpoe

Kelempu ole Ntetiyian

Mariketi ole Kalempo

Rijano ene Ntetiyian

Majakus ene Saitaga

Bebi ene Mugesa

Moyiangei ene Sampao

With assistance from:

John Kamanga, project manager

Albert Kuseo

Joel Njonjo

Jackson Kaiseyie

Guy Western

African Conservation Centre, Nairobi

Lucy Wariungi, director

Dr. David Western, chairman

Dr. Debbie Nightingale

Dr. Shirley Strum

Elizabeth Loker and Clinton Lucy

Flight & Safaris International, Winnie Akinyi

British Museum, Centre for Anthropology

Catherine Elliott, Jim Hamill, Christopher Spring

Cinematography by Jonathan Hanson

Photography & video production by Roseann Hanson

Music:

Maasai Traditional Warrior Chant, recorded by Mark Rebaum (via Soundscapes)

Intro to Maasailand, Maasai Song, and Seeing the Plains, by Marc Johnston & Steve Amis, from the film Through Maasailand (http://www.ThroughMaasailand.com)

Maasai Traditional and Osingirii Lenkare, by The Environmental Club and Maasai Music Project of Westlake City Schools (Ohio) in cooperation with the Cincinnati Zoo and Miami University. Written and recorded in Olkiramatian, Kenya, by Maasai and American students (http://www.MaasaiMusicProject.org).

Voiceover by Graham Jackson

Vintage Maasai hunting clips 1909, Cherry Keaton, "Native Lion Hunt"

Funding provided by donors of ConserVentures Charitable Organization:

Dr. Edward Beggy

Carol Keyser

Doug Mote

Brian DeArmon

R.J. Stappel

Terry & Charlie Beggy

Steve Hayden and Diane Boyer

Clay Knight

Tom & Celeste Hanagan, Four Wheel Campers

with additional support from

http://www.OverlandExpo.com

For more information please visit:

http://www.SORALO.org (South Rift Association of Land Owners)

http://www.ConservationAfrica.org (African Conservation Centre)

http://www.ConserVentures.org

Ashe o'leng. Thank you for watching.