Side-Eye, from a Mini Maasai

In Focus

The Lolldaiga Hills Ranch and Wildlife Conservancy sits upon the highlands of Central Kenya -- a series of magnificent high folding hills, cedar forests, open grasslands and wooded valleys in the county of eastern Laikipia, around 20 km’s north west of Mount Kenya.

Lolldaiga is inhabited by the Laikipia Maasai tribe, from whose language ‘Lolldaigas’ comes from (Daiga meaning hair braid), referring to the vast range of forested hills. A well-documented series of archaeological finds, cave paintings and burial mounds show that Lolldaiga Hills has been a treasured home since early mankind.

In-focus here was the smallest of their tribe – a young girl in training, keenly following the rhythm and chants of her Maasai elders. The men and women worked in deep harmony - the female Maasai thrusting their necks forward and making a “chinggg” sound as their metallic necklaces rocked back and forth. And taking cues from the beat, the men dance and jump, chanting “eee-hee”, in reverence and ecstasy.

It was one of those unique moments away from the throng of tourists and spectacle, for a peek into the transfer of knowledge and tradition through the vibrations of song and dance.