The 2014 Maasai Olympics: Competing for Change

The 2014 Maasai Olympics took place in mid-December, hosted at Kimana Sanctuary in Kajaido, Kenya. Organized and sanctioned by Big Life Foundation, the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, worked together with  a number of other supporters, sponsors, and and contributors in collaboration to bring together warriors of Kuku, Rombo, Mbirikani, and Olgulului Group Ranches to compete in six different events; rungu throwing, spear throwing, high jump, 200 m sprint, 800 m sprint, and 5 kilometre run.

A moran competes in the high jump competition

The sole purpose of the Maasai Olympics is not only to provide the current warrior age set with a platform to compete with their peers, but more importantly, to emphasize an alternative to the traditional practice of proving manhood - lion killing. This platform was provided to the warriors to utilize traditional skills to "hunt for medals, not for lions".

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals

The first competition in 2012 was deemed a huge success, and 2014 was certainly an exciting competition!

Participants of the 5000m competition

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust sponsored the 1st position of the 5000m and 800m to participate in the New York Marathon. The 5000m was a very tense competition... as Kuku was for a large part of the race in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th position. In the last 300m a moran from Mbirikani who was in the 2nd position overtook the Kuku runner and ended up winning the race!

Samson handing over cheque to the winning moran to participate in the 2015 New York Marathon

Overall score of the Olympics: 1st position Mbirikani Manyatta with 16.5 points; 2nd position Olgulului Manyatta with 7.5 points; 3rd position was Kuku Manyatta with 7 points (very close call between 2nd and 3rd position) and in the 4th position was Rombo Manyatta with 5 points total.

Kuku was proudly in the 1st position for Javelin (spear) throwing!

It was an excellent day filled with an extraordinary display of skill, competition, cooperation, and commitment to conservation. To learn more about this tremendous event, you can visit the official Maasai Olympics website here

MWCT Ranger with David Rudisha - Kenyan Gold Medalist

The Scoreboard

First Annual Maasai Olympics - Part I

The 1st Annual Maasai Olympics for the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem were held on 22nd December 2012, at the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary near Kimana.  The event was very successful, with exciting competition, a great crowd on hand to enjoy it, and a positive outcome for the entire Maasai community.  Events were contested among four different manyattas (warrior villages) - Kuku, Mbirikani, Olgulului, and Rombo.  Held to create a new, constructive way for young warriors to prove their manhood rather than threaten ecosystem health by killing lions, the Olympics sought to bring the Maasai together in a spirited display of competition and friendship.

The day was bright, the weather perfect, and the crowd enthusiastic and excited for the event.

Each manyatta held local competitions followed by regional events over the past several months to determine their team members for the ecosystem-wide event; each team could enter only a given number in each of the five events.  Sponsored jointly by the Maasailand Preservation Trust, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, and the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, it was a memorable day and the start of a fantastic new annual tradition.

A warrior captured mid-thrown as he hurls the javelin, hoping to throw it farthest.

The day began with the heats of the 200-metre dash, then progressed to the javelin-throwing and rungu (club)-throwing events.  It was a beautiful day; the track facilities excellent, the spectators enthusiastic, and the competitors striking in their red, blue, yellow, and green uniforms combined with beautiful shukas, kangas, and beaded jewelry on athletes and spectators alike.  The javelin was thrown for distance and the rungu for accuracy; both were close contests, with the rungu coming down to a sudden-death throw-off.  For the first time in the day (though certainly not the last), the winning manyatta paraded around the grounds in celebration, holding their victorious team members aloft on their shoulders - it was quite the sight to see.

A warrior carefully lines up his throw of the traditional rungu club.

This is Part I of III in our series on the First Annual Maasai Olympics.  Parts II and III coming soon!  Check back in a couple days for Part II...

Maasai Olympics Coming Up!

Traditionally, young Maasai warriors have engaged in the killing of lions to compete for recognition, express bravery, attract girlfriends, and identify leaders.  However, because lion populations have dwindled so much in recent years, this tradition is no longer culturally acceptable.  A special group of Maasai elders called the Menya Layiok (Fathers of the Warriors) has come together to create a history-making alternative to lion-killing – the first-ever Maasai Olympics, to be held this December!

The Maasai Olympics seek to replace traditional lion-killing with sports.

The inaugural Maasai Olympics are an organized Maasai sports competition based upon traditional warrior skills, allowing the tribe to retain many of its tradition while adapting to the modern world and peacefully co-existing with its ecosystem.  There are five events in the program:  

1) 200m sprint

2) 5000m run

3) Spear throwing

4) Rungu throwing

5) High jumping

A moran, or Maasai warrior, throws a spear in one of the five contests.

There are three levels of competition (local, regional, and ecosystem-wide), allowing all Maasai to participate and culminating in the Maasai Olympics on 22^nd December 2012.  Regional competitions are now ongoing, and the build-up toward what will become an annual event has been exciting thus far!  The Maasai Olympics are being jointly arranged by the Maasailand Preservation Trust, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, and the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.

The competition rules are explained to a group of warriors in Kuku.

MWCT is also offering the overall winner participation in the 2013 New York Marathon - stay tuned here for more updates, and consider joining our warrior in next year's marathon!  And finally, Campi ya Kanzi is offering a discounted rate should you desire to come and enjoy the Maasai Olympics final competition - contact luca@maasai.com for more details.