The warriors of the African Savannah

A while back some months ago I remember watching some science fiction movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and noticed something interesting about that movie which I thought of sharing. I know you might be wondering what does this have to do with the headline above so let me explain.

I was curious of the way the makers of this movie portray the attire the alien humanoid race below.

The attire they are wearing resembles that of a nomadic tribe called _Maasai_ that live in the African Savannah.

Which brings me to the topic about the Maasai warriors.

Imagine having a lion three meters away from you! Hunting it with a spear just to prove to your people that you are brave. Would you do it?

Yet this was a sign of bravery and personal achievement among the Maasai Warriors.

According to the Maasai cultural law, warriors were not allowed to hunt a lion, which is subject to drought, stroke or toxins. The Maasai believed that females were the bearers of life. Therefore, it was forbidden to hunt female-lions ... unless the lioness posed a threat to humans or livestock.

Lion hunting journey

The lion hunting journey would start at dawn, when elders and women were asleep. The warriors would sneak out of the village in order to avoid discouragement from elders and women. They would then meet at a nearby landmark. From here, the warriors would depart to the predetermined areas, where lions were most likely to be found. They usually detected a lion by following it's footprints, animal droping and/ or vultures.

Older warriors selected a group of qualified comrades. This group was considered mature, strong and capable to fight a lion. The group was known as the _ fearless warriors_ who were ready to die or live.

Young warriors who were disqualified were sent home. Not every warrior accepted to return home easily . This rejection of young warriors would wage a dispute between younger and older warriors. The warriors would then fight with clubs and shields. Losers were always the younger warriors. Despite this, they still believed that the challenge was worth a try.

The success of lion hunting brought gratitude and excitement to the entire community. The achievement was perceived as individual bravery. The community would honor Olmurani lolowuaru (the hunter) with much respect throughout his lifetime. The hunter would also receive a nickname, for example, Miseyieki, from colleagues. Miseyieki meant no one will ever dare to mess with him. When the warriors attended ceremonies in other communities, they would praise their colleague through songs, so other warriors could acknowledge their member.

Although lion hunting was an activity of the past, lions are still hunted when they maul Maasai livestock. Cattle are central to Maasai livelihood.