In introducing the members of the troupe, it is important to stress that each and every one of them is humble, affectionate and kind. Indeed those of us involved in this tour love them all and feel privileged to be helping them. They are almost all practising Christians, and those who are not are totally Christian in their outlook. Without doubt they will leave a lasting impression on all who meet them.
TAJEU OLE MINISA (known as Richard)
Richard is the leader of the group. Born one of nine children, his father died when he was fourteen. His mother sold water and firewood in an effort to pay his school fees. In the end he had to leave school and after training as a warrior for one year, he went to help his mother drive out their cows to look for pastures. He supplemented any money they had by working as a night watchman. Realising that he was a good solo singer, he met with friends and saw the need of singing to educate their people on how to cope with poverty and hard times, and to lead a more Christian life. Richard is married with three sons.
KAMAYET OLE PARMARI (known as Sarge)
Sarge never went to school. His father believed, as did many of his peers, that a child should only be sent to school if you did not like him or he was useless!! Sarge is the only son in his family of four and was therefore sent to look after the livestock. Now married, with one child, a boy, Sarge has realised that his parents did not, until now, see the need for education. Sarge will ensure that all his children go to school. Since joining the Osiligi group, as a soloist, Sarge has seen many improvements in the lives of his fellow troupe members as a result of their activities.
KESAME OLE PARSAPAET (known as Movie Star)
Kesame did not go to school. His father was born blind, and now has three wives and eighteen children. After serving as a warrior for five years, proving himself an outstanding hunter of wild cats, he also enjoyed singing and jumping with his friends, as well as eating meat, drinking cows’ blood and taking wild herbs! On leaving warrior hood he found that the drought had almost wiped out the family’s cows and he only earned money by looking after the cows of a rich man whose cattle had not been affected. He then joined up with Osiligi, a group whose efforts, not only improve the lot of the village, but also campaign for good practices in their community. Kesame is married with three daughters.
MAINKE OLE MORIO (known as Morio)
Morio is one of five children and has never been to school. All his life has been spent looking after the family cows apart from one year spent training as a warrior. His elder brother is educated and is a schoolteacher, but without education Morio had to rely on livestock for his livelihood, until joining the Osiligi troupe as a singer. This has enabled him to change his life a great deal and also that of his sisters and his three children.
TUMPES OLE MASASI (known as Tumpes)
Tumpes is one of ten children whose parents have never been to school. After a very short period his parents made Tumpes leave school to look after the cows, but following a drought the number of his father’s cows were reduced drastically. This forced him to look for alternative employment, so he started felling trees to make charcoal. This, in turn, was banned by the government. Tumpes is an athlete, (many Kenyans are good runners), and he seriously considered taking it up as a career until joining Osiligi who have given him a new meaning to life. Tumpes is married with three children.
MIRIAM TENTERE MULUNKEI (known as Miriam)
Miriam is the fourth child in a family of eight, born to her mother. Her father is a polygamist and has six wives and forty-two children. He was a very wealthy and respected man, but when the drought hit their land he lost much of his livestock, and could not maintain his large family. Miriam had to leave school. However, her father did allow her to marry the man of her choice and she and her husband have two boys who both go to school. Life is not easy, but Miriam and her husband have constructed a tin house that is resistant to rains and strong winds. Living conditions are very congested as they share the house with her mother-in-law and her five children. She hopes that her work with Osiligi will provide her with the funds to build a bigger house. She also knows that the efforts of the Osiligi troupe are doing much good work in providing education for girls.
SUSAN NAYIANOL (known as Susan)
Susan is sixteen years old and her parents died before she was eleven. Her brothers wanted to subject her to certain unpleasant Maasai traditions and she ran away from home. She has forgiven them because they knew no better and thought they were doing the best by her. Susan has now, thanks to part sponsorship by the Osiligi troupe, gone to High School, where there is only one other Maasai girl. The Osiligi troupe’s help has manifested itself in a number of ways in Susan’s life. She is therefore thrilled to offer her delightful singing voice to the troupe for their tour of Scotland.
EMMANUEL OLE MANJURA (known as Emmanuel)
Emmanuel was fortunate in that his father went to school, and hence saw to it that Emmanuel went too. Schooling was interrupted by initiation and training for warrior hood. Subsequently, Emmanuel went back to school, but had to leave after his father’s death and the loss of most of their livestock through drought. As he had not completed his education, he started digging wells and small dams for people. It was hard work but also helped him, not only to earn a living, but to get water for his village. He learned of the Osiligi troupe and, having been accepted into the group, loves talking to fellow Maasai on how to improve their living standards. Emmanuel hopes to have the opportunity to return to his schooling. He is now married with three children.
NATUMI OLE MAIKAL (known as Coilel)
Coilel is one of a family of eight and has never been to school. His father told him he loved him too much!! Young Massai cannot obtain well-paid jobs without education. Coilel trained as a warrior for four years and later had a job driving cows from market to market or from homes to market. Being a loved son, Coilel’s father found a suitable girl for him to marry and they now have two children, and a happy life together. Since joining Osiligi, Coilel sees the advantage of teaching Maasai culture to other communities by entertaining them and indeed feels they learn much in return. Like all other members of the group, Coilel marvels at the way the lives of his community have changed. |
