How Maasai community livens up Diani tourism

Apart from the white sandy beaches and safari tours, the Maasai are taking over as a tourist attraction.

The community, which comes from the vast lands of Kenya's savannah, has taken up their rightful space in the entertainment industry.

They have moved from the bushes to town, where they shine great. They have lowered their spears and shields and concentrated on selling culture.

For many years, in the Coastal region, the Maasai community members have been known as the traditional herb, curio and shoe sellers in towns and along the beaches.

They are also hired as security personnel for folks in the cities.

Most people are fond of Maasai for security purposes because of their courageous and skilful abilities in tackling threats.

However, the Maasai community is now also playing a key role in promoting tourism in Kwale.

A foreigner's visit would not be complete without interacting or seeing a Maasai.

The Maasai have now found their way into some of the big hotels in Diani and are part of the tourism packages.

Some of the hotels opt to use the Maasai or their dress code, exhibitions and dances to welcome visitors and thrill them with live night bands.

Kwale Maa Community chairman Kisham ole Mrera said they have come up with a group of 60 people, both men and women, who do cultural performances in hotels.

"We realised foreigners are fond of us, and we took advantage of that to boost Kwale tourism and improve our lives," he said.

Mrera said they mainly showcase their rich culture through traditional dances, songs and attire.

He said most of the Diani hotels hire them for shows, which have proved successful.

The only way foreigners will know they visited Kenya is by seeing a Maasai, and that's why we came here to help promote tourism

SELLING CULTURE

The community comprises members who come from Kajiado and Amboseli.

Mrera says most foreigners would prefer to travel to such places to explore and meet the Maasai community.

The idea of settling in Diani is to bring the community closer to the foreigners and make their stay in Kwale very interesting, he said, hence retaining them within the region for more benefits.

Mrera said when guests see the Maasai, they get to feel the real taste of being in Kenya.

"The only way foreigners will know they visited Kenya is by seeing a Maasai, and that's why we came here to help promote tourism," he said.

The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya. They are also found in Tanzania. They speak the Maa language and, to a lesser degree, Kiswahili and Engish.

Mrera said instead of tourists travelling to Maasai Mara and Amboseli among other places, they choose to enjoy their stay in Kwale.

He said they show them warrior dances, spears, arrows and traditional clothing.

The common warrior dances they do are for the rite of passage for male circumcision, as well as for weddings.

Mrera said the Maasai community also gets to sell the clan and history of their greatest warriors as well as the culture for a certain fee.

He said it is a job that has changed their lives and helped put food on the table.

The group's secretary Backson Sayioki said their coming together unites the community and helps in preserving culture.

He said the young Maasai born in town gets to learn from the group and keeps their cultures and traditions unaltered.

"It is one way of passing our history to the young generation and conserving it," he said.

Sayioki said they also use their culture to fight drug abuse and criminal activities and instil virtues in the youth.

He said apart from the hotel shows, the group has a session where community members are reminded of the need to remain united and coexist peacefully with the locals.

In Kwale, the Maasai are mostly found in Ukunda in Msambweni and remote villages of Lunga Lunga and Kinango subcounties.

Sayioki said the Maasai culture is appreciated worldwide. They take the initiative to educate the youth and how they can use it to make a living and improve their socioeconomic development.

He said the initiative is also part of the programme to push for campaigns against GBV, promote equality in education and create awareness of doing away with old cultural practices, such as early marriages and FGM.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Joseph Koole, a lecturer and a professional interpreter, said language is a major obstacle for the Maasai community.

He said the language barrier makes it hard for the group members to negotiate good business with tourists.

Koole said in most cases, the community ends up missing great opportunities because of the language barrier.

He, however, said he has come in to bridge the gap and negotiate on behalf of the Kwale Maa Community group.

"A big number of the community don't know how to speak English or other foreign tongues because of illiteracy," he said.

Koole speaks German, Polish, English and Italian, among other languages.

He is also a lecturer who has specialised in Maasai history, tradition and culture.

Koole said the competition is often high because of the language barrier.

He, however, said they work as a group to mitigate the effects and negotiate a price as one.

He said apart from hotel shows, they have also participated in several cultural competitions and won awards.

Koole said in Kwale, they represent the county in regional and national cultural contests.

He said the benefits are many, ranging from recognition, representing not just Kwale but the pride of Africa to doing business.

Koole said they get to sell curios, spears and shields, among other things, and are also hired for tours by foreigners (tourists).

FINANCIAL WOES

Despite the Maasai being known as the pride of Africa and playing a crucial role in tourism, they benefit little.

Mrera says they don't receive enough support from the government and only rely on cultural performances and shows.

He said they can't grow because of financial constraints since what they earn is inadequate.

The chairman said the business is hard since dishonest middlemen shortchange them.

He said sometimes, they are forced to turn down shows outside the county because of accommodation and travelling expenses.

Koole said the government should consider supporting the Maasai community because it advocates Kenyan tourism.

He said both the county and national government should set aside money to assist the Maasai in marketing tourism.

Koole said the county should initiate plans to construct a cultural building where the community will be given a special opportunity to nurture talents and promote their culture.

He called for the inclusion of the Maasai, adding that they have become citizens of Kwale and even changed their voters' cards.

"We want the county to consider us since we are not just living here but we are also voters of this great Kwale," he said.

Koole said the government should ensure the community effectively benefits from tourism.

BOMAS OF KWALE

During the Kwale Cultural Annual Competitions, Mining CS Salim Mvurya promised that the national government, in partnership with the county, will construct the Kwale Heritage and Cultural Centre, which will be known as the Bomas of Kwale.

The CS said that the government has a special budget that will help the county realise the establishment of the much-awaited centre.

It is expected to cost Sh50 million. The construction is set to start this year at Diani in Msambweni subcounty.

"The government recognises the importance of culture and be assured that it will put a hand in the construction of the Bomas of Kwale," he said.

The CS said it is crucial to appreciate cultural diversity to foster unity for economic development.

He said heritage and culture are the backbone of the country, and recognising cultural diversity and conserving them will boost tourism activities and the economy at large.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said the Bomas of Kwale will play a key role in uplifting tourism and preserving the rich Kwale cultures.

She said the construction of the cultural centre will support the county’s efforts of identifying and nurturing talents and market the region through cultural diversity.

She said the facility will provide a better platform to educate the young generation on the different cultures to enhance tolerance and resilience.

Achani said everyone would be accommodated and given a fair opportunity to demonstrate and grow their culture.

“We embrace cultural diversity, and my administration intends to use that to promote tourism as well as the unity of the people,” she said.

The governor said having respect and appreciating one’s culture brings a sense of unity, which is key to socioeconomic development.