This is a book about the Maasai pioneers, the men and women who used their talents, resources, knowledge, skills, charisma and character to serve the community, or a section of it, between the mid-1700’s and early 21st Century. Sironka has ably examined the traditional and modern pioneers, from Olarinkoi in the Endikir e Kerio (the Kerio Valley), to Stanley Oloitipitip from Loitokitok. He has brilliantly weaved Maasai history, culture, leadership, politics, land and other pertinent issues throughout the book, making it informative and very interesting to read.
This powerful book reads like the book of Numbers in the Bible when 12 Jewish spies were sent to spy the land of Canaan, which the Israelites wanted to conquer and occupy.
Ten came back and reported that the land was full of giants and dangerous people. They discouraged the Jews from pursuing their vision of capturing Canaan. They were psychologically and mentally defeated by the sight and the physique of the people they saw in Canaan. When the people heard the report, they rebelled. Their fear outweighed their faith in God and vision. Out of the 12 men who spied on Canaan, two (Caleb and Joshua) gave a positive report that the land was theirs already by God’s will, full of milk and honey waiting for them to take possession of. They tried to instill hope and confidence in the community by telling them that nothing and nobody would stop the Israelites from taking the envisioned land of Canaan.
However, the actions and attitudes of the 10 spies caused the Jews to wonder in the wilderness for 40 years. After that, in spite of the deaths and the many challenges faced by the Jews, Caleb, Joshua and their generation did not let the dream die. They led the people to Canaan, leaving behind graves of their pioneers in the desert. Sironka has written an honest book that depicts that very few Maasai pioneers – ancient and recent – fought hard enough, ignited suffcient passion and vision, sacrificed adequately or inspired hope and sustainable development among Maa-speaking people. His thesis is that, like the Jews in Numbers 13 and 14, there have been less Joshuas and Calebs among the Maasai, traditional and modern, to lead the people into sustainable prosperity and progress in the last 300 years.
Like Sironka, I believe that Maasai prosperity and progress is redeemable. What is needed seem to be men and women of this and future generations who have the Joshua qualities and character of leadership. Firstly, leaders require a compelling vision of a peaceful and prosperous Maasai people. Why? Because vision leads the leaders, it is the fire lighter for the others to follow those leaders. Vision can grow from the rich history of the Maasai or from within the leaders themselves. But true vision is far-reaching; it has real value to the leaders, and adds value to the people. Without a vision, leaders cannot claim to be going somewhere and to be taking people anywhere. Soon they and the people will perish.
Secondly, leaders must give up going up. That is the true nature of leadership. It is also called sacrifice. Mandela of South Africa did it and so did Nyerere of Tanzania. Very few Maasai pioneers you will meet in the following chapters actually sacrificed for the people, and yet there is no success without sacrifice. They focused too much on themselves and not enough on their people. It was Einstein who said that a person starts to live when he can live outside of himself. For current and future Maasai leaders to make a positive difference they will need to serve the community genuinely and faithfully.
Thirdly, Maasai leaders must empower the people to take charge. It is only a lazy or stupid man who by default hands over the management of his home to another man. The time has come for the Maasai to take charge of their home. This means we must begin to think for ourselves. It means we must cease to follow blindly agendas set by others. We must bring fresh thinking to bear on every aspect of our lives – religion, culture, education, economics and politics. It also means we must act if the Maasai are to know progress and prosperity.
During the colonial period, hand-picked ritual experts and chiefs took charge of Maasai affairs and in the ensuing independent era, politicians have unfortunately been the primary controllers of the lives of the community.
That is wrong. Current and future leaders must embrace the law of empowerment and lift people up to a higher level. To do that, they need to be secure. Only secure leaders give power to others and only empowered people can reach their potential in every aspect of life– social, spiritual, physical, educational and economic.
I heartily recommend The Maasai Pioneers. You are going to love this book–whether it is the first Maasai book in your collection or the tenth–because you will learn and can immediately apply the life-changing stories and principles of the pioneers in your personal, family and business life. There is no “ivory tower” theory in this book. Instead, it is loaded with real stories, positive and negative, of men and women who influenced the Maasai over a long period. The Maasai Pioneers is a powerful, definite statement of the Maasai story which introduces you to leaders whose qualities you have the choice to ignore or emulate if you want to be a great leader–at home, on the job, in church, or wherever you are called to lead.
In each chapter, Sironka goes straight to the heart of the Maasai story, showing you through the successes and failures of others and how you can apply the quality of leadership in your life. What a priceless treasure Sironka offers as he boils everything he has learned about the Maasai through reading and experience, down into such usable form! It is a helpful book, easy to read, yet profound in its depth and clarity. It is loaded with challenges and some pertinent wayforward ideas for current and future leaders among the Maasai and beyond.
Prof. Sarone ole Sena, Narok South, October 2020
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