Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith photograph
the Maasai Olympics in Kenya for their 16th book of
African Ceremonies, “African Twilight,” 2016
Angela and Carol spend time with David Rudisha, 2012 Olympic gold medalist, at the Kenyan home of Tom Hill, board director of Big Life Foundation and a principal organizer of the Maasai Olympics. All photos by Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher
Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith are completing their sixteenth book on African Ceremonies to be published in 2016. African Twilight will not only feature some of the last great traditional ceremonies in Africa, but will also capture ancient cultures in transition.
Click here for more Maasai Olmypic photographs by Carol and Angela
Winner and runner–up reach finish line in the National Geographic Cultural Competition
For Carol and Angela, who have photographed Maasai ceremonies for forty years — including the warrior lion hunt — the Maasai Olympics of 2014 was an extraordinary ceremony of transition not to be missed. At the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, history was being made — instead of hunting for lions, Maasai warriors, in full regalia, were hunting for trophies.
In Maasai Olympics, warriors choose to throw Olympic javelin instead of their traditional spear
David Rudisha, Olympic gold medalist (London 2012) in the 800 meters and world record holder, is Patron of the Maasai Olympics, the world’s most famous Maasai, and a noble warrior himself.
From L–R: A Maasai warrior celebrates a winner from his village (manyatta); A Maasai competitor gets ready at
Maasai Olympics.
During the three days they spent with David, Angela and Carol were deeply impressed by his extraordinary character, dedication, and humility. Devoted to his people and their future, David has chosen to be a role model enabling young warriors to follow in his path.
Warrior athlete attempts to break Maasai Olympics high–jump record of 9 feet 1 inch
The Maasai Olympics really touched Carol and Angela’s hearts. Seeing young warriors direct their physical prowess away from lion hunting to competing in sports was inspirational — the essence of the great Maasai culture was being preserved while, at the same time, being adapted to the twenty–first century.
The rungu, used by warriors traditionally to ward off small predators, is thrown in the Maasai Olympics in a competition rewarding accuracy
The winning Manyatta of warriors celebrate by carrying their trophy in a victory procession
Africanceremonies.com
Google Cultural Institute’s website
Maasaiolympics.com
For more information and interviews contact:
Caroline Graham (caroline@c4global.com)
C4 Global Communications Santa Monica, CA 310-899-2727 www.c4global.com