What can we learn from our traditions?

The Maasai people are one of the few tribes in Kenya that until now, maintain more of their traditional culture and way of life.

They are mainly pastoralists with large herds of cattle. The Maasai are known for their knowledge and use of indigenous tree parts and herbs for immunity and to treat ailments.

Over time, this indigenous knowledge is declining rapidly due to the effects of colonisation, deforestation, climate change, and the community is relying on modern medicine usually from pharmacies. The elders with this wisdom are getting fewer, the knowledge is getting lost.

Chumvi area located in Laikipia Kenya is a semi arid area, home to mostly the Maasai Community. This also happens to be my rural home, where my mother grew up. (She is now 62 years old)

From her experience as a child, the land was fertile and her parents were invested in taking care of the land. Besides keeping cattle as is Maasai’s culture, they had food in plenty from the vegetables and fruits grown and a pond that ensured water supply. 

The children (my mother’s family were 15 children born from my grandmother, and many more step siblings) were tasked to ensure each morning that monkeys don’t come to steal their food from the garden.

My grandparents were also gifted medicine people. They would use certain indigenous trees to boost the immune systems or cure certain ailments of their community. Different trees and herbs had different purposes, which were well known to them and others within their age-set.

Going back to Chumvi at my age now, it is hard to even picture this kind of utopia, as the land feels almost barren. There is little or no edible vegetation. Most of it is bare or covered with cacti and shrubs that are not of benefit to the people. 

There is need to ensure that the community is self-sufficient, and can go back to our indigenous knowledge of working with the soil to ensure provision of food and natural medicine.

We wanted to revive this knowledge by working with Chumvi Primary School children in planting some of the indigenous trees, whilst learning from the elders about their cultural and medicinal significance. We planted 6 different species, and have 20 children taking care of the trees. Each owning 2 trees, naming them, watering them, and hence ensuring a sense of ownership and continuation.